The path of the just is like shining light, that grows in brilliance till perfect day. Prov 4.18
Our lives these days are surrounded by chaos. We have floods causing destruction, social change, globalization, terrorism, and the cost of living reaching new highs. Murder and violence pervade our society, teenage suicide is frequently reported and there is an apparent powerlessness to exercise any control. When the taking of life of an unborn child is seen as a right; and when the preservation of precisely that right becomes the object of a political campaign – I have shrewd suspicion that Satan is deeply satisfied.
When a whole society begins to question whether marriage really requires one man and one woman - Satan must be very pleased indeed!
When we are met with such anti-traditional values, we must surely reach the unmistakable conclusion that ‘”an enemy has done this “ In addition we have our own personal pain and suffering coming to us from many sources. It all looks bleak and dismal, and yet we are here to be reminded that we are on the winning side, as the Book of Proverbs reminds us. (above) Or put it another way in the words of Christ “ Do not be afraid I am with you” “With me you can do all things” “Fear not I have vanquished the world”.
One of the great feasts is the Transfiguration which we celebrated earlier this month and it gives immense comfort and consolation in our pain filled lives. The message of the Transfiguration is empty and meaningless if it is not for the fact that Jesus was about to suffer and die in order to release God’s transforming power into our humanity. In fact the whole of Christ’s life is without meaning unless it points to the value of suffering. Of all the great founders of religion Jesus Christ is the only one who enters into suffering, loss, pain and even death itself in order to support us in our frailty and through it bring us into the resurrection and a higher and better life.
We must have courage and make the hard decisions. Mary, Queen of Peace encourages us in her concern and love. Take her message in March 2002:
Dear Children. Today I call you to unite with Jesus in prayer. Open your heart to Him and give Him everything that is in it; Joys, sorrows and illnesses. May this be a time of grace for you. Pray, little children, and may every moment belong to Jesus. I am with you and I intercede for you. Thank you for having responded to my call.
We are now living in an age when we, Bishops,Priests and laity must move away from being merely comfortable, and enter into the cost of discipleship. In the days ahead we will encounter many Herods and Pilates who will judge us and mock us,simply because we are not falling in line with the attitudes and morals of the world.
You are the light of the world. Meaning what? Jesus is insisting that we who believe He is the Saviour of the world, who have risen with Him and live in His presence, who eat His flesh and drink His blood, have no right to hide our gifts in a sort of rubbish bin. Our gifts given to us by God – of nature and of grace, should stand out like neon lights, should make people pause, stop, look and listen. We must be bearers of Christ to others, and if we are united to Christ we must live His life and experience growth, transformation and transcendence. We might dare to call this the Christian mystery, meaning that a tremendous truth hidden in God has been revealed to us by His Son. Our task as Christians is not adopt the culture of society, but to bring faith hope and love into world searching for a meaning to life.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was martyred by the Third Reich because of his devotion to Christ and His message. Before He died he wrote about the cost of belonging to Christ.
Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field…..the pearl of great price……. the call of Jesus Christ, at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows Him. Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again. It is costly because it cost God the life of His Son - and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us.
Today we’ve come from many parts of the country and listened to the inspiring words of Fr Mario, who renews for us the holiness and challenge of Medjugorje. The challenge he has given us today is to become people of prayer, and how often have we heard that message over the years. But did we heed the words when he said that it isn’t the Bishop who is causing trouble; or the theologians impeding Medjugorje. The truth is that WE are responsible for not carrying out Our Lady’s requests, and we have sunk into a sort of lethargy. However , the Lord wills to let His face shine upon us through the face of the Mother of God, and as G.K.Chesterton said: ‘we serve a Mother who seems to grow more beautiful as new generations rise up and call her blessed’.
This year we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Mary’s appearances at Lourdes. The message of Lourdes is to look at the grace and holiness of Christ in Mary, become converted and be healed. It is a call to Christ as at Fatima, Rue du Bac, and now at Medjugorje; a call to enter fully into the fruits of His redemption. Today we must take to our hearts St Paul’s fiery words: 'For God who said ‘Let Light shine out of darkness’ has shone in our hearts to bring to light the knowledge of the glory of God on the face of Christ.' (2 Cor 4.6)
‘The path of the just is like shining light, that grows in brilliance till perfect day.' (Prov. 4.18)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. ___________________________________ Fr John McCaffery O.F.M.
Harden not your hearts
This month , on the 25th July we received another wake up call from Our Blessed Lady. It is a call She has given on many occasions, but we have to ask ourselves : have we taken any notice and done anything about the matter of conversion, about changing our lives, and working to extend the Lord’s Kingdom in our world?
Let us consider some reminders from Scripture to help us realise how serious this question.
“Seek Yahweh and you shall live or else he will rush like fire on the House of Joseph and burn it up, with none at Bethel able to put out the flames” Amos 5:6.
“Besides you know ‘the time’ has come: you must wake up now: our salvation is even nearer than it was when we were converted. The night is almost over, it will be daylight soon – let us give up all the things we prefer to do under cover of the dark; let us arm ourselves and appear in the light. Let us live decently, as people so in the daytime: no drunken orgies, no promiscuity or licentiousness, and no wrangling or jealousy. Let your armour be the Lord Jesus Christ; forget about satisfying your bodies with all their cravings” Ro 13:11-14. “I set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Choose life then, so that you and your descendants may live, in the love of Yahweh your God, obeying his voice, clinging to him; for in this your life consists and on this depends your long stay in the land which Yahweh swore to you father Abraham, Isaac and Jacob he would give them.” Deut 30:19-20
Now we can turn to Our Blessed Lady in Her call to us to renew our lives.
“…..Today I invite you to total conversion. This is the most important message that I have given you here”. Feb. 25th 1996 “…..When God is in the first place, then you will, in all that you do, seek the will of God. In this way your daily conversion will be easier….Conversion will become a daily duty that you will do with joy. Little children, I am with you, I bless you all and invite you to become my witnesses by prayer and conversion.” April 25th 1996 “Awaken from the tired sleep of your soul and say ‘YES’ to God with all your strength. Decide for conversion and holiness.” March 25th 2001.
Last month we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Encyclical Humanae Vitae, For those of you who remember it was a time of dissension in the Church. There was rebellion even from within the ranks of the clerical hierarchy. Pope Paul VI suffered much opprobrium and ridicule. It was and is a very compassionate document, as those who have taken the trouble to read it will discover. But there are many who simply ignore the Church’s rulings and make their own choices. That has led to a situation, foreseen by Pope Paul and which he highlights in his document. Almost prophetically he said that contraception would lead to a general lowering of moral standards throughout society; there would be a rise in infidelity; a lessening of respect for women by men; and a coercive use of reproductive technologies by governments. We need only to look around us, to see how far we have sunk in respect for life in all its forms and how little regard we have for the beauty of God’s creation and for the laws He has given us.
Barack Obama, the US Presidential candidate made a whirlwind tour of various countries recently. He spoke well, great thoughts, inspiring ideas; with a great cry for human rights. But he failed to be consistent, because in talking about tearing down walls, his message was hollow in disregarding the respect due to the walls of the womb, the sanctuary of humanity. So we must pray that the Lord will open his heart and he will acknowledge the laws of God’s creation for the good of humanity.
As you all know, Pope Benedict visited Australia for the World Youth Day and by all accounts it was a huge spiritual success. How sad that the Press gave it no coverage of any kind, except to mention the abuse meted out in the clerical scandals of the past. To see young people at prayer, adoring their God, singing His praises, putting up with discomfort, but full of happiness, was not the news that would make the headlines. The Pope spoke with great wisdom and encouragement, and his words were meant not simply for the young but for all of us. When we reflect on them we see all too clearly how we can take to our hearts Mary’s call for conversion, and become renewed followers of Her Son Jesus Christ.
Pope Benedict said “Dear young friends, the Lord is asking you to be prophets of this new age, messengers of His Love, drawing people to the Father and building up a future of hope for all humanity.... Being ‘sealed with the Holy Spirit means not being afraid to stand up for Christ, letting the truth of the Gospel permeate the way we see, think and act; as we work for the triumph of the civilization of Love.”
On the Monday 25th of this month members of the Medjugorje Apostolate in this country gather at Walsingham to honour Mary, Mother of God and Mother of the Church. We pray that it will be a spiritual success bringing many graces upon all present and also upon our country, that our country may once again embrace the teaching of Christianity, so bringing conversion and peace of soul to all who are seeking the way of God.
The words of the late Father Bede Jarrett O.P are suitable to end this reflection:
“From the moment, then, that Mary accepted her high destiny from the angel’s voice, there shone in her eyes the light of motherhood. Without human intervention or concurrence, by her sole union with the deity, was born her Son. Surely, then, with truth did the angel hail her as full of grace. Because she is the Mother of God, we draw to her with confidence, assured that from her own humanity will spring her wish to help us, and from her close union with God her power to do so.”
Mary, Mother of God and Help of Christians, pray for us.
The Holy Spirit – our Love - our Strength
When we attend Mass we hear the Word of God and, reflecting on His message, we sometimes begin to wonder how we are going to fulfil what He is asking us, or in fact commanding us to do. To take a simple example. Jesus says "This is my commandment, love one another as I have loved you." We have heard it often but, honestly, do we really live it? I may work with someone who is a constant bore, has nothing to say, and spends the whole time complaining about life and the faults of other people. Or it might be someone who knows all the facts and, whatever anyone says, there is always a correction to be made - the voice of authority and truth!
The list could go on: difficulties in marriage, in religious life, and at times it seems almost impossible to carry on. But we do have strength and the ability to persevere in spite of all the bitter opposition. We see it in the life of the Lord especially in His Passion and death and that has been carried on down the centuries in men and women giving heroic examples of holiness even though surrounded by evil in all forms of repulsiveness. How is it possible for this to be achieved?
In the Old Testament we hear the psalmist giving praise to God: For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered for ever. They are not afraid of evil tidings; their hearts are firm, secure in the Lord. (Ps 112: 6.7) Or, again,
Blessed be the Lord, who has not given us as prey to their teeth. We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped.
When we come to the New Testament, Jesus is even more outspoken about the difficulties and hardships that come to us simply because we are following His way and not the way of the world. We will have opposition, suffering and hatred, but we will be able to withstand it all if we allow the Lord to enter our life and fill us with His Love. It means dying to myself and all that I want so desperately, so that the emptiness can be filled with the power of His Holy Spirit.
"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." "I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But TAKE COURAGE; I HAVE CONQUERED THE WORLD.” (John 16:33)
Our Holy Father, Pope Benedict recently visited the USA and his words had a powerful impact on many people, young and old, laity and clergy alike. They became aware of his prayerfulness, his sincerity, and his closeness to Christ. All the different groups he met he asked to keep their eyes fixed on Christ, who had the answer to all problems, and he said if they did they would find peace and contentment. ‘Come to Me all you who labour…..’ Cardinal Mahoney of Los Angeles openly declared that he went home a different disciple of Jesus Christ, because the Pope’s words brought him strength and helped him with his burdens; he had been directed to a deeper union with the power of the Holy Spirit, and in this way renewed in the service of the Lord.
At Medjugorje Our Blessed Lady has been giving us message after message, pleading with us to live the Gospel with greater intensity and in this way to bring peace to the world. On August 25th 2000 Our Lady said: "I desire to thank you and inspire you to work even more for God and his Kingdom with love and the Holy Spirit." This means that if we want to change the world, it is vital that our lives are changed. There has to be an examination of conscience, because personal conversion is a prerequisite if we want love and peace to reign in the world.
Today in this new Pentecost in which we are living, the Holy Spirit guides the Church in its mission of realizing an encounter between Jesus Christ and all peoples. We must make sure that we are not simply sitting back, waiting for events to happen; rather each of us must be involved in an openness to the Holy Spirit, ready to play our part in renewing the face of the earth. It is not enough today to attend Mass on Sunday and forget about the Lord and His message for the rest of week until the next Sunday comes round. Recall our Lady’s message:
This time is a time of grace. Especially now when THE CHURCH IS CALLING YOU TO PRAYER AND CONVERSION. I also, little Children, invite you to live the messages that I have given you during the time I have been with you. (February 25th 1996)
The purpose of the messages is not just for the conversion of the individual, but that each converted individual become a challenge to others to change their way of life. We must never forget that the Lord has asked all of us to be the salt of the earth and a light to the world. As we reflect on the messages, the call is made in different ways to Christians to remember who they are and what they should be doing. And above all for our consideration there is the summons from Our Blessed Lady: "Let Holy Mass be your life." (April 25th 1988)
We are in the middle of our Novena for the great Feast of Pentecost, and we pray that we might be renewed in these days by the power of the Holy Spirit: renewed in our prayer, so that each day we will give glory to God; renewed in our faith, hope and love; renewed in our reverence for God and the things of God; and renewed in our personal commitment to Christ our Lord and Saviour, fortified with courage to be able to proclaim the Gospel not just in words but with the shining power of our example. That is what the world is waiting for, to continue the work and the mission of Christ.
In my examination of conscience I must ask myself : am I a living advertisement for Jesus Christ? Can people see from what I do, say or think, that I am a follower of Christ? If not, then I must fall to my knees and ask God’s mercy and pardon, and beg for the grace to change my lifestyle in line with the commands of the Gospel. I must pray to the Holy Spirit to burn all the evil from my heart and renew and fortify me in the power of His Love: "Come Holy Spirit, fall afresh on me!" We need the Holy Spirit to guide us, inflame us, empower us, so that we can stand and proclaim the liberating truth of the Gospel which brings light to dispel the horror of darkness in our world.
There is no better way to end our reflection than to quote the Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch. Ignatius Hazim, who in Uppsala in 1968 said:
Without the Holy Spirit, God is distant, Christ is in the past, the Gospel is a dead letter, the Church is a simple organization, authority is domination, mission is propaganda, worship is the summoning of spirits, and Christian action the morality of slaves... but in him… the Risen Christ is here, the Gospel is the power of life, the Church means Trinitarian communion, authority is a liberating service, mission is a Pentecost, liturgy is a memorial and anticipation, human behaviour is deified.
Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh us.
THE LORD IS RISEN - ALLELUIA
Holy Week and Easter bring home to us the great truths that last for ever. Above all we are reminded by the liturgy of the tremendous love God has for each of us. On Holy Thursday we reflect on the tremendous Gift of the Holy Eucharist, the power and holiness of the Priesthood, and Christ crushed in suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane. On Good Friday we follow the agony of the scourging, the mockery, the crown of thorns, then setting out for death, stumbling in agonising pain on the way to Calvary. Three hours pinned to the Cross, gasping for breath, blood streaming down His shivering Body, yet words of love, forgiveness and peace. All this happened because I made it happen, through my selfishness, my sensuality, my greed, my lust for power, my unkind treatment of others, my lack of appreciation of God’s love in my life, The list could go on. But on my knees I hear those consoling words: “Father forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.”
Now we are in the joy of Easter, and we know that Calvary was not the end but only the beginning: “I am with you all days till the end of time.”
We are blessed yet again with a powerful Pope who in his words and actions is alerting the world to the existence and law of God. Pope Benedict said at the end of last year: “…..Christ’s words mean that the peace He came to bring us is not synonymous with the mere absence of conflicts. Instead, Jesus' peace is the result of a constant battle against evil. The fight that Jesus is determined to support is not against human beings or human power, but against Satan.”
We see this today where science is taking over and ignoring the law of God: the plan set up by God to ensure the harmony of human life in all its dignity. We must pray for our Bishops for the strong stance they are taking to protect the gift of God’s life; for ourselves that we pray for our leaders to follow God’s way in justice and love. And we must constantly ask God’s forgiveness for insulting His goodness, His love and His Holiness. The Feast of Divine Mercy is near, and may it be an occasion of heartfelt sorrow for all the sins we have committed and the outrages perpetrated against a loving God, We can do no better than use the prayer of St Faustina, placing our trust in God.
“Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your Holy Will, which is Love and Mercy itself”. (950)
Father John McCaffery o.f.m.
QUEEN OF PEACE DAY, 27TH AUGUST 2007 A HOMILY GIVEN AT WALSINGHAM
Some time ago, a spiritual writer, highlighting gentleness and courtesy as expressions of the new commandment of Love, wrote: “To criticize, to destroy, is not difficult: any unskilled labourer knows how to drive his pick into the noble and finely-hewn stone of a cathedral. To construct, that is what requires the skill of a master.” In the present climate we are all too conscious of living in a sad, violent and pain filled world, where confusion and doubt seem to reign. Really, is it any wonder that Our Lady spoke to Mirjana in July in sad tones: “Today I look into your hearts, and looking at them my heart seizes with pain.” But, as on other occasions, Mary offers us a solution, a remedy for all our ills: “My Children, I ask of you unconditional pure love of God” We are called to be missionaries of love! However when we hear the word missionary mentioned we immediately think of St Francis Xavier or Bl. Damian of Molokai; but we are asked to be missionaries of love in a more ordinary, down to earth way, in our homes, our neighbourhood, the office, waiting in the queue for confession or for the bus after a hard day’s work. You and I are not living in an atheistic environment - our society is much worse. We could say this is a post-Christian moment in history. In his last book, Memory and Identity, the late Pope John Paul II gave a stern warning: “We encounter the signs of an alternative civilization to that built on Christ at the ‘Cornerstone’ – a civilization which even if not explicitly atheist……is built on the principle of thinking and acting as if God did not exist.” That is the opposition you and I have to face, an alternative so-called civilization. It is quite obvious that many powerful nations continue to work and organize as if they had no need of God. So what do we do? History provides us with an answer. How did a bedraggled band of disciples, followers of an obscure man, executed as a criminal – end up by changing the world? How did they overpower an empire, set up a new form of life based on this man’s life and teaching? How was it all accomplished in a couple of centuries without a shot being fired? “I give you a new commandment – to love one another. Just as I have loved you so you should love one another.” “You are the light of world. Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven” St John the Apostle wrote: “Beloved since God loved us so much we also ought to love one another.” It is vital that we are ambassadors of love. Evil is rampant in the world in all it barbarous forms in the destruction and misuse of unborn life, in wars bringing death and mayhem to thousands, and in terrorist attacks bringing horror and fear to our cities. But in spite of this alternative so-called civilization, the triumphant fact remains: we are NOT powerless. We can turn the world upside down provided we are willing to love. True enough, it sounds trite, almost avoiding the issue, but I’m not talking about having a cosy warm feeling in our breasts having just done a good deed. I mean a love that bears fruit in our personal zeal for living God’s law, for justice, mercy, and courage in working for the spread of the Gospel. The secret is that we must do everything for the Love of God, a love expecting nothing in return. The world ignored the hungry, the poor and the suffering in ages past -and still does. But Jesus told us that we would find God in the least of those we help and assist. If we have love, then we have Jesus. In her life Mary, Mother of the Lord, avoided the limelight, the publicity – but she left space for God in her life whom she encountered in her prayer and when she served her neighbour in need and distress. She shows all of us that anxious care, that tender love, to enable us to rise above the troubles in our world of today. Two days ago the Mother of God said; and we must listen closely to her words: “Dear Children, Also today I call you to conversion. May your life, little children, be a reflection of God’s goodness and not of hatred and unfaithfulness. Pray, little children, that prayer may become life for you. In this way, in your life you will discover the peace and joy which God gives to those who have an open heart to his love. And you who are far from God’s mercy, convert so that God may not become deaf to your prayers and that it may not be too late for you. Thanks you for having responded to my call.” {Fr. John McCaffery ofm}
Medjugorje at the 26th Anniversary
I returned last Thursday (7th June) from Medjugorje. Once again it was an occasion filled with many graces and blessings. As I wasn’t involved in leading a group or organising prayer times, I was blessed with having time to pray quietly and reflect on many aspects of our pilgrimage to God. It is always uplifting to be with other priests, especially united in concelebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Eucharist, and to share their thoughts in the homilies: opening our minds to new visions of the Gospel message as seen and lived in other parts of the world; to be united in prayer with men and women from different countries; to see the faith and love reflected in their actions and above all in their faces. We have all experienced this in different ways and Medjugorje is simply a reminder to us of the beauty of the Gospel message, as well as a warning that we are not doing everything as well as we could.
On the previous Saturday, Mirjana had her usual meeting with Our Lady and we were given a message which is beautiful, but also very challenging when we consider how we live our faith, how we respond to God. This is what we received:
Dear Children, Also in this difficult time God’s love sends me to you. My children, do not be afraid, I am with you. With complete trust give me your hearts, that I may help you to recognize the signs of the time in which you live. I will help you to come to know the love of my Son. I will triumph through you. Thank you....
I think you will agree that there is a good amount of material for us to meditate upon, as we look at our own lives. Mary asks us not to be afraid, yet deep down we are quite apprehensive when we consider the world in which we live today. There are many wars raging in different parts of the world; people each day blown apart senselessly; priests and religious being abducted and killed; food and nourishment kept from thousands of people because of man’s sheer arrogance and greed. The list could go on. Yes, we see many good people who each day offer their prayers, work honestly, help others, and contribute to the good of society. But there are many others for whom God is non-existent: life is to be lived or destroyed according to a whim; morality has no meaning; and their way of living brings scandal and hurt to many around them.
This is naturally upsetting, particularly for parents when they see their children take a path which to all intents and purposes is going to end in disaster. We are reminded of the Israelites, the people God Himself had chosen, but who for a time ignored His Love, His concern, and all the goodness the Lord God had showered upon them. At one point He sent His prophet Jeremiah to bring them to heel, to warn them, but even that seemed to have no effect. What does God say through the prophet?
They have made it a mournful waste, desolate it lies before me, desolate all the land, because no one takes it to heart. (Jer 12:11)
Mary our Mother is alerting us to the signs of the time and to be aware of what is taking place. All too easily we can be caught up in all the distractions of the world and our love and dedication to the Lord can become tepid. We can easily forget how Jesus exhorted us to become like the grain of wheat falling into the ground and dying, in order to give way to a plentiful harvest. BUT DIE WE MUST. Simply recall the austere figure of John the Baptist; he recognised Jesus as the Messiah: He must increase and I must decrease.
We must fall on our knees and do penance for our own sins and also for the sins of our age. The apathy, the insults offered to God in ignoring His Laws, the destruction of life which He has created, all thrown aside like a dirty rag. We must beg God’s forgiveness and mercy for humanity’s arrogance and pride in going its own way. Also we must spend time in deep prayer, in order to KNOW the Lord in an intimate way. If there is less of me, then there is room for more of Him. The more of me that dies, then the closer He can get. We can just look at the lives of the Saints who one by one died to this world and to themselves, and allowed Christ to shine forth in their lives.
Again Mary our Mother is reminding us in this day of ours that Jesus want us to know Him. We don’t have to be Doctors of Scripture, brimming full of knowledge, but we do have to be full of love for Christ and we must be truly in Christ. Saul before he was converted said he knew all about the Law; but after his conversion he could say: I know whom I have believed. (2 Tim 1.12) When we are really close to Christ then we can do great things. That is why Our Lady is telling us that she will help us to know the love of Her Son, which can only happen when we cease to be bloated with our self-interest and are longing with every fibre of our being for the Love of the Lord. What greater example in this can we have than Pope John Paul II, who served the Lord till the last moment of his life and encouraged us to live with great fervour. That is why he could write in his Apostolic Letter Mane nobiscum Domine with such intensity:
Faith demands that we approach the Eucharist fully aware that we are approaching Christ Himself. It is precisely His presence which gives the other aspects of the Eucharist - as meal, as memorial of the Paschal mystery, eschatological anticipation – a significance which goes beyond mere symbolism. The Eucharist is a mystery of presence, the perfect fulfilment of Jesus' promise to remain with us until the end of the world. (para 160)
What better note to end on for the 26th Anniversary of Mary’s appearing at Medjugorje than to take to heart the words of Second Chronicles 7:14?
IF MY PEOPLE WHO BEAR MY NAME HUMBLE THEMSELVES, AND PRAY AND SEEK MY PRESENCE AND TURN FROM THEIR EVIL WAYS, I MYSELF WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN AND FORGIVE THEIR SINS AND RESTORE THEIR LAND.
Fr John McCaffrey OFM
OUR NEED OF JESUS CHRIST
In the last 30 to 40 years mankind has made great strides in science, embracing many areas of life and also in technology. We have all lived sufficiently long to be able to recall when all these marvels of science simply didn’t exist. Yet sadly, when we compare our present day with fifty years ago, are we happier, more contented? Is the world a safer place, do we have greater respect for life and the dignity of the human person? Again we can all answer those questions from our personal experience. We can also look at our own lives and see whether we are closer to God, or do we find it more a struggle simply because the world has a greater dominance than years before?
The great French theologian, the Dominican Yves Congar warned us about this many years ago. “With the constant progress of science, man has gradually lost the awareness that he depends on another. Yet salvation essentially consists in this awareness of dependence. Man cannot save himself by his own efforts. Another saves us. Catholics also are running this risk.”.
Without being pessimistic and doom laden, we are going through a trauma in the opposition we find to the basics tenets of our Christianity. The reason we are here in Medjugorje speaks volumes. It isn’t for a holiday, and that is certainly not the reason why you are involved in bringing many people here year after year. For over 25 years the Mother of God has been speaking to us with urgency and concern, and She puts it very simply. There is no mistaking her message. “Dear Children, I want to lead you on the path of conversion and I wish that you convert the world, that your life may be a conversion for others." ( 24/6/87)
It is vital that you and I are in the forefront, leading by good example, and in that way convince the world that Christ and Christian models are absolutely needed for the solution of all our human problems. History tells us that all human efforts alone are doomed to utter failure. The Lord made it quite plain “Without me you can do nothing.” When we are dealing with moral absolutes, there is no room for any kind of gimmicks, because truth cannot be compromised nor can faith be trifled with.
God we know so loved the world that He sent his only Beloved Son; He spoke our language and told us about the Eternal Father. Jesus, the image of the Invisible God, revealed that He equally shared in His Father’s Divinity. “I and the Father are one.” I am as equal as my Father who is in Heaven.” “He who sees me sees the Father who sent me.”
We know and believe that His teaching, miracles and His Resurrection authenticate the fact that He was both human and Divine: “I am the Way the Truth and the Life.” And saying this He invites us to follow him, and we will not be in error but confident in truth.
Many times He says to us “Do not be afraid” yet so often we wonder and ask “What is the world coming to?” Today, bad news dominates everywhere; crime is rocketing, all that we hold dear and reverent is being vilified and cast aside. What ARE we to do, as we find ourselves in a desert, where all our supports and securities are falling away and we stand exposed to the dangers of human existence? We can easily recall the great strength we have, mentioned in many places in Scripture, and that is our Faith. If we follow the example of the psalmist, and pray his words found in Psalm 56, then we have overpowering confidence and comfort. “O Most High, when I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God whose word I praise, in God I trust, I am not afraid: what can flesh do to me?”
We know well enough how runners and athletes prepare themselves by training and we too can train ourselves in confidence in God, and as we know well enough this entails fervent prayer each day. It is good for us to recall that when Jesus' life was drifting towards failure and defeat it was then that He performs his most hopeful gesture. He takes bread and wine and gives it to his disciples saying: “This is my body given for you; take and drink. This is my blood……” When the Christian community is beginning to break up, Jesus proclaims the New Covenant. Each time we celebrate the Eucharist, we enact the memory of this crisis, endured and vanquished. We have nothing to fear from our present crisis. The Church was born in a crisis, and has endured many in the course of history. It survived and will do so, as Christ has promised.
There are many avenues of grace available for us: the Eucharist which we can attend with greater faith and love; allow Our Lady more time in our lives, consecrating our parishes and families and ourselves to her protection; and develop the habit of reading Scripture regularly and prayerfully.
We must also seek ways to contribute to the new evangelization. After all, God wishes the salvation of all mankind, and we must take the trouble to bring the joyful message of the Gospel to our world, because when we walk in the light of Christ there is nothing to fear from the darkness. But we need Christ and it is necessary that we are close to Christ.
Here is this place Mary warns us of the evil around us and the snares to avoid. In 1986 Mary said “You know, dear children, that with your help I can accomplish everything and force Satan not to seduce you to evil and to remove himself from this place. Dear children, Satan is lurking around each individual. Especially in everyday affairs he wants to spread confusion among you. Therefore, dear children, my call to you is that you attend each day to prayer and complete surrender to God.”( 4/9/86)
Archbishop Sheen was renowned as a preacher and broadcaster and gave powerful witness by his life. On one occasion he said “If the basis of Christianity were anything else than a God Who came forth from a tomb then we would be without hope. How long this conflict between good and evil will last we do not know; how long we will walk down the road bemoaning persecutions and Crucifixions before He makes His Presence known to us we do not know; how long we will seek the living among the dead, as did Magdalene, we do not know; how long we will crouch in fear behind closed doors before the Light of the world breaks through with “Peace be with you” we do not know. There is only one thing we do know and that is that we have already won - only the news has not leaked out yet.”
Our task in the difficult times that lie ahead is simply to abide in him, believe in him and do whatever he tells us. Jesus in the Lord of history and He is the one to whom we must cling as we make our way through a dark age. Pope John Paul was a prophet for his age and gave tremendous witness of his love for Christ and for his brothers and sisters. Much has yet to be revealed about his life which will inspire us and enable us to imitate Christ with complete conviction and intense love. We end with his words “…today the Lord is passing by. He is calling you. In this moment of grace, he is once again calling you by name and renewing his covenant with you. May you listen to his voice so that you may know true, total joy and enter into His peace.” (To Bishops of Latin America in 1992).
HOLY IS HIS NAME
REFLECTIONS ON GOD’S CALL TO ETERNAL LIFE GIVEN THROUGH THE VIRGIN MARY
Fr John McCaffery O.F.M.
Introduction
“Strengthened by the presence of Christ (cf. Mt.28.20), the Church journeys through time towards the consummation of the ages and goes to meet the Lord who comes. But on this journey - and I wish to make this point straightaway: She proceeds along the path already trodden by the Virgin Mary, who ‘advanced in her pilgrimage of faith, and loyally persevered in her union with her Son unto the Cross’. This quotation is from Pope John Paul’s Encyclical Letter Redemptoris Mater and he tells us that he quotes from the Constitution Lumen Gentium which in final part of the document offers us a clear summary of the Church’s teaching on the Mother of God. To some it may seem strange that Mary has a great deal to teach us in our reading of the Gospels. She appears infrequently and speaks very little but her actions are much louder than her words and we have to take note of them. It is very important that we become familiar with the Scriptures and know what Mary is saying to us while she was on this earth.
All of us are on our pilgrimage of faith and in these days we find it difficult to respond well and in generosity to the following of Jesus, our Saviour. Mary our Mother is aware of this and has shown her concern in a unique way. Since June 25th 1981 it is claimed that the Blessed Virgin Mary has appeared on a daily basis to a group of six young people. On the second day she revealed herself to them as Mother of God and Queen of Peace. These young people (though older now) all insist that Mary brings an urgent and prophetic message for mankind. We are told that peace in the world is in a state of crisis and that “mankind must be reconciled with God and with one another”. This began in Medjugorje which is in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the message is very basic. Peace (through conversion with God and one another) faith, prayer and fasting. Medjugorje has grown to be a centre of Christian pilgrimage, attracting millions of pilgrims over the years from all over the world. Bishops and priests have been there in vast numbers. So far the Church has made no definitive statement on the authenticity of the apparitions, but in the meantime it remains a place of great grace and a source of spirituality.
I have been to the Shrine of Our Lady over thirty-eight times and find it a place of prayer and remarkable graces. In the following chapters I would like to present some aspects of Mary’s messages which she has been giving to us for almost twenty-five years: keeping in mind that we are submissive to whatever decisions are made in the future by the Apostolic See.
CHAPTER ONE
The Parish and the Shrine at Medjugorje is under the care of the Franciscans (Order of Friars Minor). The Franciscans have been in that part of the world since the latter part of the thirteenth century, and the spread of the Gospel was certainly due to their courageous work, especially in time of persecution. In a sense that is another reason why I feel at home in Medjugorje as I am a friar Minor myself, and an unworthy one. Of all the saints I am sure the story of Francis of Assisi is the best known, even if it is only because of his connection with the animals, birds and all of nature. After his conversion Francis gradually fell in love in a very deep and passionate way with Jesus Christ; and he lived a life of love, penance and renunciation. So faithful was he to God in everything, that towards the end of his life he was signed in his flesh with the marks of Christ’s Passion; in his hands feet and side. From then on he was known as the Christ of Umbria.
But Francis had a great love for the Mary, the Mother of Christ and this is made clear in the few writings that have come down to us. As we read his praises of Our Lady, we can see that here is a mystic at prayer, and that he is caught up in the love of God; a love which embraced Mary and endowed her with the most wonderful of gifts.
I greet you, Lady, holy Queen, holy Mary, Mother of God, Virgin who became the Church, chosen by the most holy Father of Heaven, consecrated to holiness through his most holy and beloved Son and the Holy Spirit, the comforter; in you was and is the whole fullness of grace and everything that is good. I greet you, his princely dwelling, I greet you, the tent of his covenant, I greet you, his habitation, I greet you, his garment, I greet you, his handmaid, I greet you, his mother, with all the holy virtues, which through the grace and light of the Holy Spirit descend unto the hearts of believers, to make believers of unbelievers for God.
As we pray these praises we can glean something of the tender love of Francis for the Mother of Christ and our Mother; and we ask his intercession that we too may grow in a similar love for Mary, and allow her to bring us each day closer to the everlasting life of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Mary, Mother of the Lord, help us as we make our way uncertainly to the Kingdom of Heaven. Listen to the prayers of St Francis and may he gain for us the love, strength and perseverance to serve Jesus your Son on this earth and rejoice with him and you through the power of the Holy Spirit in the Kingdom of the Father.
