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

25th May 2019

 

Our Lady of MedjugorjeDear children,  God permitted me, out of His mercy, to be with you, to instruct and lead you towards the way of conversion. Little children, you are all called to pray with all your heart for the plan of salvation to be realized for you and through you. Be aware, little children, that life is short and eternal life waits for you according to your merit. Therefore, pray, pray, pray to be worthy instruments in God's hands. Thank you for having responded to my call.

 

 

 

Dear Brothers and Sisters of Medjugorje North East and beyond, 

In St. Luke's Gospel 15: 1-33 we read the parable of the Prodigal son. Here we encounter the merciful face of our Heavenly Father.  In telling this story Jesus showed us the true nature of God. The Father who embraces the wounded child, and clothes him in the garments of Salvation.  Here is the Father who does not judge, does not berate, but truly one who is prodigal-extravagant in mercy.  "The face of God is mercy" says pope Francis, and Our Lady begins this month's message saying, "God permitted me out of his mercy to be with you, to instruct, and lead you towards conversion."

Our Lady comes to us as Mother of Mercy, sent with the Gospel message of Conversion.  We are the "Dear children” like the prodigal child to whom the Father's mercy is bestowed upon to keep us on the road of Salvation. 

The apparitions of Our Lady at Medjugorje have their source in God's mercy, which is why the place is called 'The confessional of the world.' 

We are in a time of growth, love and mercy with the coming of Our Lady, who continues, "to instruct, and lead you towards the way of conversion."  

There exists a real danger that we begin to think that we are totally converted.  Conversion is first of all a battle against sin-sin in us and around us.  Conversion is the constant turning of our hearts to God, and his revelation in Jesus Christ.  It is the immersion of our whole lives into God's presence and love.  Then we grow in mercy, in forgiveness and love. Jesus tells us to be merciful as our Heavenly Father is merciful, and to be perfect as he is perfect.  This striving for conversion requires a guide, and so Our Lady says, “to instruct and lead you." 

We need instruction in the Faith, in Truth and, we need a guide.  Mary is the perfect disciple, who walked the path of Faith, and so she is also our Mother and Teacher.  She is like a bright light guiding us through the storms and confusion of our lives.  Like all the saints Mary was never idle on the path of Faith, following her Son, so we too look towards her for hope in her instruction her teaching. 

If your life has become confused, or you are worried then this is your time for deeper conversion, to entrust yourself to Our Lady and her teaching.  

 

"Little children you are called to pray with all your heart for the plan of Salvation to be realised for you and through you." Our lives are part of a greater plan and Our Lady calls us to co-operate with God's grace.  Mary asks us to 'pray with all your heart' a phrase she has used many times over the years.  To pray with all your heart means to pray with Faith and Love, and with conviction and believing.  The salvation won for us in the Saving death and resurrection of her Son is the plan that must become real in our lives and in our experience.    So, this means going deep into our souls and asking what it is that blocks us from opening our hearts to God.   

Our desire for God and Faith is suffocated at times because somehow, we allow it to be suffocated.  Our Lady knows how many people have lost their inner peace, and their way on the path of salvation in our own times.  "For us men and for our salvation" we say in the Nicene Creed' and we too become signs of this salvation when we pray it from the heart. 

"Be aware little children that life is short, and eternal life waits for you according to your merit." The world with all its disordered desires is passing away, but whoever does the will of God remains forever." (1 John: 2: 16-17)

Heaven is our goal, the completion of the plan. Eternal life is the free gratuitous gift of our saviour, but we have to claim this salvation, with God's grace, and our co-operation.  Because as Our Lady says this is according to our merit, we have to enter into this gift with increased faith and love for God.  The experience of Heaven isn't necessarily going to be the same for everyone.  Our Lady is full of Grace therefore her sharing in the eternal life of God is great.  We will experience Heaven to the level that we are able to.  According to what we have merited in this life. That's why we have nine choirs of angels, "There are many rooms in my Father's house."  We have to co-operate with grace here in this world.

Our Lady concludes this message asking us to "Pray, Pray, Pray."  So that we become worthy instruments in God's hands.  This threefold call to prayer emphasises the perseverance necessary to be an instrument in the hands of the Father. What a beautiful and sacred gift. Mary knows how we can so easily give up on prayers or limit them to a minimum.  A generous heart filled with confident prayer enables us to become “Worthy instruments in God's hands.” 

 

God Bless, Fr. Martin