Fr. Martin’s reflection on - Our Lady’s Message

25^th July 2017

“Dear children, Be prayer and a reflection of God’s love for all those who are far from God and God’s commandments. Little children, be faithful and determined in conversion and work on yourselves so that, for you, holiness of life may be truth; and encourage each other in the good through prayer, so that your life on earth may be more pleasant. Thank you for having responded to my call. ”

Dear Brothers and Sisters of Medjugorje North East and beyond,

when we reflect on the monthly messages of Our Lady Queen of Peace the starting point that is so important is to take the message and to allow it to speak to us personally.

This means before reading any commentary on the message to sit with the words before us personally and to ruminate on them, by reading them several times and allowing Our Lady's words to speak to you individually before reading anyone's reflection on them.

Pray with Our Lady’s words in the silence of your heart, before anything else.

This practise is so important for anyone wanting to enter the school of Our Lady that we call Medjugorje.

Then, only after this practise read the commentary for further insight if necessary.

Let us turn to the Holy scriptures for enlightenment on the words of Our Lady.  In the book of Exodus 34:35 we read about Moses descending mount Sinai with the two tablets of stone in his hand: "and Moses face was radiant so he wore a veil over his face."

At the Transfiguration too of Jesus, we read in the Gospel:

"There in their presence he was Transfigured his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as dazzling white." (Matt:17:2)  

St Paul comments "And all of us with unveiled faces like mirrors reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into his image that we reflect brighter and brighter this glory from the Lord who is Spirit." (2 Cor 3:18) 

Our Lady begins this month's message by saying:

"Be prayer and a reflection of God's love."

We are reminded with these words that true prayer is a gift of the Spirit of Christ which makes us in turn a gift to others. In Christian prayer we receive a blessing, and we become a blessing for others.

To be prayer means to be changed by the Lord's Grace whom we encounter in all genuine prayer. Our Prayer makes us love for every person, and we truly can become a blessing for others with the fruit of prayer which is Peace, Joy and Love. Time spent in prayer changes us, builds on our human nature and makes us the Lord's witnesses, as Moses coming down from the mountain. Those who pray in Christ reflect something of his beauty and serenity to our world, they become reflections of the splendour of God's glory who radiate a peacefulness and gentleness to others. "Be prayer and a reflection of God's love for all those who are far from God's love and his commandments."

When Our Lady speaks of those who are far from God's love and his commandments let us be slow to point the finger, but rather look at ourselves for Mary then asks, "Be faithful and determined in conversion and work on yourselves so that holiness of life may be truth."

Let us ask ourselves what it is that prevents us from moving closer to the Lord? What is it that keeps us from Prayer, from Fasting, from Holy Mass, from reading the Holy Bible? From Reconciliation? From the Truth?

What excuses do we find when we don’t love, pray and become truly just? 

Are only the others guilty? When we permit someone or something to place a distance between us and God, then it means we distance ourselves from true life from Peace, from Truth. "That for you holiness of life might be truth"

Holiness is not just possible it is the gift on offer so that we may “reflect God's love"

Let us take note of two words Our Lady then uses, "Faithful and Determined"

Dear brothers and Sisters think about the context of these words. heaven invites our co-operation at this time.

To be Faithful means to love Jesus, to be so thankful for the gift of Salvation.

We are Faithful because of Love.

To be Determined means to respond from the heart consistently, not to give up. Mary calls us to work on ourselves on our conversion.  To become aware of our selfishness, pride, blindness to the suffering around us, our attraction to material things. 

Our longing for God is suffocated because somehow, we allow it to be suffocated.  Our Lady knows how many people have lost their inner peace and serenity of soul because they no longer follow the commandments.

This is why her words are prophetic for us all. 

So, do we come closer to God every day? Then we will become a true living reflection of God's love for others. The closer we come to him, the more we encourage others.

When Our Lady tells us to encourage each other it means we have become isolated individuals. Mary calls her children to be together in Prayer, Faithful and Determined.

Let us prepare and be ready, vigilant and alert.

Praise be Jesus and Mary, always Jesus and Mary!

Fr. Martin