Fr. Martin’s
reflection on - Our Lady’s Message
25th
September 2017
“Dear children, I am calling you to be generous in renunciation,
fasting and prayer for all those who are in temptation, and are your brothers
and sisters. In a special way I am imploring you to pray for priests and for
all the consecrated, that they may love Jesus still more fervently; that the
Holy Spirit may fill their hearts with joy; that they may witness Heaven and
Heavenly mysteries. Many souls are in sin, because there are not those who
sacrifice themselves and pray for their conversion. I am with you and am
praying that your hearts may be filled with joy. Thank you for having responded
to my call. ”
Dear Brothers and Sisters
of Medjugorje North East and beyond, Conversion is the constant search
for God and from this grows the part we have to take
in the spiritual battle with evil, in choosing the good and truth. Our
times are Marian times and these cannot be defined by anything else other than
the decisive battle against sin and evil. This can only be done with a deep and
radical decision for God with Mary, but also through Mary.
The call to renunciation is
a clear part of this month's message, along with Fasting and Prayer.
The message is direct,
simple and beautiful. We can help others through our little acts of sacrifices
and charity.
Let us think of the little
children of Fatima who did small acts of fasting for the conversion of
sinners. Mary always speaks about those who have not yet come to discover
the love of God, and this is the point of renunciation. Mary reminds us that
with our efforts of ‘renunciation, fasting and prayer for all those
who are in temptation’ we are doing something beautiful not for a
stranger, but, "because these are your brothers and sisters."
To see everyone through the
eyes of Mary is to see each person with profound love. Because these are
your brothers and sisters. Only love can make a difference, our sacrifices
arising from the depths of pure love, out of the human heart is a transforming
love.
All humanity is special to
Our Lady, and every person is loved by her, she calls us to this same
awareness. We are all part of the same human family, all interconnected as
children of God, not strangers but friends, and our spiritual lives can have a
profound affect on others by our love. Little acts of
renunciations performed in love. Mary is here to help all of us stay on the
path of Salvation to God, each of us is uniquely special to her. Let us see the
pain in the eyes of our brothers and sisters who desire a new life, a clean
heart, a pure spirit. Mary asks us to awaken to them, and to remember that our
acts of renunciation carry grace for them our Brothers and sisters.
From the very beginning of
the apparitions, Mary has called for Prayer for Priest's and Consecrated.
She often speaks of "The Shepherds"
How Many Priestly and
Religious Vocations have come from Medjugorje, and now Our Lady asks us
specifically to pray for them "That they may love Jesus still
more fervently."
Mary has spoken much in
these times about the renewal of Faith and its link with the shepherds, even
linking the ‘Triumph of her Immaculate heart to the Renewal of the
Priesthood. This surely is at the heart of this renewed call for the Clergy
and Consecrated. "So that through their Joy they may witness to
heaven." Let us not be critical about their weaknesses and failures,
but let love be the response through heartfelt prayer and renunciation. The
world needs their heavenly witness.
"Many souls are in
sin."
The world seeks God, and it opens itself to God, but still someone must be sent
to guide us in order to be with God, as Mary chose to
be with God for this world. This is after all the deep reason for her
coming and the apparitions. We not only change ourselves, but when
we grow through Love, Peace, Hope, and Faith -it is for the whole
world.
Mary sees all the problems,
all the destruction in families, the destruction within each single person, all
the wars, acts of terrorism, the innocent who suffer, those who cause the
suffering. she does not ask us to judge the world, or talk about it, but she
calls us to offer it God, and Gods love for it. We can make a difference, for
our Brothers and Sisters.
God Bless,
Fr. Martin