Fr. Martin’s
reflection on - Our Lady’s Message
25th
February 2026
“Dear
children! in this time of grace, anew, I am calling you
to offer your lives to God that He may lead you towards the resurrection
through your personal conversion. Little children, God is near to you and heeds
your prayers, but you are lulled to sleep, and that is why He sent me to you to
awaken you, and that you may shine holiness like a spring flower.
Thank you for having
responded to my call.”
(With Ecclesiastical
approval)
Dear Brothers and Sisters of Medjugorje North East and beyond,
Our Lady is with us, and even though we are in turbulent times, we
should not fear, because Our Lady once said, “ All
those who pray are not afraid of the future.”
( 2025)
For forty four years now Our Lady has been with us in a special way, she
comes as Mother and Queen of Peace, to show humanity the way to peace. Our Lady has also told us that she is coming
because she is concerned for our Salvation.
In this month’s message she tells us that she is coming, because we are “ lulled to sleep” and that God
has sent her to “ Awaken us.”
We have entered into the liturgical season of Lent, - the word ‘ Lent’ means , ‘ Springtime’ – ‘ Springtime’ of the
soul.’ So Our Lady asks us to ,” Shine holiness like a spring flower.” The universal call to holiness is for
everyone, let us strive for that grace , by listening
to Our Lady.
Our Lady begins this month’s message,” In this time of grace anew,
I am calling you to offer your lives to God, that he may lead you towards the
Resurrection.”
The Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ is what we all strive for, a
share in Our Lord’s triumph over sin and death.
We say this each time we recite the Apostles creed, or the Nicene Creed,
“ I believe in the Resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.” So the season of
Lent leads us towards Easter day, when we renew our Baptismal promises, and so
enter more fully into the triumph of our Saviours, life, death and
Resurrection. How often Our Lady has
told us that she wants all of her dear children with her in heaven. Heaven is our goal.
Let us think about Our Lady at the moment of the Annunciation. St. Luke says Our Lady said, “ Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be
done to me according to your word.” ( Luke : 1:38) In
giving her free response to God, in complete trust and loving abandonment to
his will, Our Lady opens the doors of the hope of Salvation for all humanity.
So let us take Our Lady’s
example in offering our lives to God each day, as a humble
offering acceptable to the Father. We pray in
Eucharistic prayer three ‘ May he
make us an everlasting gift to you.” This
work of the Holy spirit , inviting our co-operation
leads us towards the Resurrection, the pledge and promise at the heart of the
Mass. Our Lady asks us to always
remember that each one of is an offering to God, as she was at the Annunciation.
Then Our Lady says, “ through
your personal conversion.” Lent
is a penitential season, when we decide for God in greater measure, and in
service of love of neighbour. The
decision for our personal conversion , should include a good celebration of
the Sacrament of Confession, when we receive the grace to die to sin and live
for holiness. A good Confession prepares
us well for the Resurrection. Above all
we need to decide.
“ Little children, God is near to you, and heeds your prayers, but you are
lulled to sleep.” St. Augustine said, “ God is closer to us than we are to ourselves.” We can become so pre – occupied with so many
things and events, that we forget the supreme truth that God is near, and heeds our
prayers. He is a loving Father , who always is listening. Our Lady calls us to live in this awareness
of his loving presence. What causes us
to be lulled into sleep ? The answer lies in Jesus’ parable of the
seed, in Matthew 17. “
As for the wheat that was sown among thorns, this is the one
who hears the word, but the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of
riches, chokes the word, and is unfruitful.”
(v. 22)
Jesus always calls us to spiritual vigilance in the Gospels, “ So stay awake, for you do not know the day nor
the hour , when the Lord is coming.” ( MT: 24.22) Our Lady
is with us , because we need ‘ waking up”. She says God has sent her to us to
do just that. So may the remaining time
of Lent be for our spiritual awakening.
Let us pray more, and have the courage to renounce and fast. This will then be the sign, that we are Our
Lady’s children, that we belong to her, and follow her messages without
hesitation, because Our Lady is asking us to , BE READY!
A Blessed Lent,
Fr. Martin