He Loved Them to The End

They watched him, with eyes full of wonder, as he rose from the table, removed his outer garment and tied a towel around his waist.

What was he doing, was the question going through their minds.

He filled the earthen basin with water, knelt down before them, and like a lowly servant, began to wash the feet of his disciples. One by one he washed them, tenderly drying their feet with his towel.

The sound of silence filled the room as each one present watched this humble act of love and they were instantly aware of their own unworthiness as he bent  low before them.

But only Simon Peter protests, “Master, you will never wash my feet!

….”Unless I wash your feet”, he replies, “You will have no inheritance with me.”

Peter surrenders himself completely, his hands and his head as well.

Cleansed now by the Master, they are being prepared for what would lie ahead.
 

Each of us, from the day of our own baptism, has been prepared to participate in the dying and rising of Christ. We have all been called to die to ourselves, to surrender our obstinacy and to serve him by serving each other according to his teachings and example.

As we enter in to this last week of lent, may we all pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit  for ourselves, for our families, for our country and especially for all that will be joining our Catholic family as we celebrate The Great Vigil of Easter.

"Dear children! In this time, I call you
all to pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit upon every baptized
creature, so that the Holy Spirit may renew you all and lead you
on the way of witnessing your faith – you and all those who are
far from God and His love. I am with you and intercede for you
before the Most High. Thank you for having responded to my call." 

BVM, Medjugorje, May 25, 2009

“ He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.” John 13:1

When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God...

Dawn has not yet broken. Slowly she rises and makes her way down stairs.

“The coffee smells so good”, she says to herself. Grabbing her favorite mug, the beige one with the lavender flowers, she pours herself a cup and holds it close to her face, taking in both the warmth and the aroma it offers. “Thank you Lord”, she says quietly, and walks over to the sofa.

 She loves this time of the morning. The house is still and the dog is nestled by the fireplace that her husband has lit for her.

After a few sips of coffee, she pulls out her rosary beads. She kisses the crucifix before beginning to pray and wonders how many others throughout the world are doing the same thing right now.

An image of God’s children comes to mind. They have all just risen and are gathering themselves together. They lift their voices in praise for the many gifts they have received and in prayer for the many needs for themselves and those closest to them. Like the holy apostles and the saints that had come before them, these children of God pray that they, too, might imitate the divine light.

“Imagine if we all begin each day like this”, she thought to herself…….

Peacefulness settles into her soul and she begins to pray for all though who do not believe.

Our Lady Queen Of Peace of Medjugorje’s March 2, 2012 Message Given To Mirjana  On The Day of Non-Believers

"Dear children; through the immeasurable love of God I am coming among you and I am persistently calling you into the arms of my Son. With a motherly heart I am imploring you, my children, but I am also repeatedly warning you, that concern for those who have not come to know my Son be in the first place for you. Do not permit that by looking at you and your life, they are not overcome by a desire to come to know Him. Pray to the Holy Spirit for my Son to be impressed within you. Pray that you can be apostles of the divine light in this time of darkness and hopelessness. This is a time of your trial. With a rosary in hand and love in the heart set out with me. I am leading you towards Easter in my Son. Pray for those whom my Son has chosen that they can always live through Him and in Him - the High Priest. Thank you." 03/02/2012

May we all lift our prayers for those that do not believe in God and for all those that do not yet know him.

   

The Widow's Mite

For they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.” Mark 12:44

Not a day goes by that I don’t see her at morning mass. Her soft gray hair, her heavy maroon coat and her sensible shoes are always accompanied by her angelic smile. Her smile lights up the church brighter than an entire wall lined with votive candles. It is just one of the many gifts she gives to others without the smallest effort.

When mass is over she stays behind. Prayer book and rosary beads in hand, she prays for her children, her grandchildren, her friends and the many homeless that she bakes cookies for. This is her widow’s mite, her small sacrifices of love that she joyfully shares with others. She is a witness of Christ here on earth; her name is Preska.

Then there is Joan. She leads a Thursday night rosary in the church for the sanctity of life. I have seen her on countless Sunday afternoons standing, either alone or with a few other folks, in front of the nearby Planned Parenthood. Apparently, this particular Planned Parenthood does abortions on this day. Joan holds her rosary beads in one hand, a few prayer cards in the other, and she prays during the hours that the abortions are being preformed. She has been subjected to many vile comments by both men and women seeking the seemingly "quick fix" they feel Planned Parenthood will provide them. You see, Joan's peaceful presence, her standing up for life, stirs something in them that they want to keep suppressed, something they don't want to feel.

She doesn't seem to mind though. This is what she joyfully does for Jesus. And the fruits of her labor have,  indeed, been a joy because Joan has also had young women that have come out of Planned Parenthood and walk up to her,  tearfully telling  her thank you. They tell her that her presence and her prayer jolted something in them, something that made them realize that they could not go through with the abortion.   

These good women, and many others like them,  live the message of Jesus in small but mighty ways every day. As St. Paul has said, “Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God” Heb. 13:16

During Lent of 1986, Our Lady gave the following message:
“Dear children, today I invite you to live this Lent with your small sacrifices which you have already presented to me. Dear children, continue to live in this way and, with your love, help me to present your offerings to God, who will reward you.”   BVM, Medjugorje  03/13/1986.

Our sacrifice is the truest sign of love, for on the external level we gain nothing for ourselves, but direct our action outward for the benefit of another. And a sacrifice that we have made with love is redemptive in the hands of God, for it becomes joined to the greatest sacrifice of all, that of Christ on the cross.1

1. Adapted from: Medjugorje Day By Day, Richard J. Beyer

Divine Babe

"Let us put our hands in those of the Divine Babe. Let us say our Yes to his invitation "follow me" and we will be His. The way will be clear for His divine life to become incarnate in us. This is precisely the light that comes through the darkness, a light kindled in the soul the miracle of Christmas."  St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, O.C.D (Edith Stein)

The first Christmas was certainly surrounded by wonder. 1

Zacharias wondered how he and his elderly wife could give birth to the forerunner of the Messiah. (Luke 1:18)

Mary wondered how it would be possible for a virgin to give birth to a baby. (Luke 1:34)

Joseph wondered why he and Mary had been chosen by God to be the parents of the Messiah. (Matthew 1:18-25)

The shepherds in the fields outside Bethlehem wondered about the angels that appeared in the sky, and what their message meant. (Luke 2 13-15)

Those in Bethlehem wondered about the story that the shepherds were spreading throughout the village. (Luke 2:17-18)

Mary wondered about everything that was happening at the birth of her baby. (Luke 2:19)

May the wonder of  of the Divine Babe, love incarnate, be your joy this Christmas Day and may you share His joy with all you meet.

 "Dear children, here is my Son in my arms! I would like to ask you to be a light for all in the year to come. I would like to call you again to live my messages- the messages of peace, conversion, prayer, penance, and faith.

Dear children , your Mother does not seek words from you- I ask for deeds. Your Mother will help you and she will give you the strength to preserve. And tonight I would like to tell you: Rejoice! BVM, Medjugorje, 12/25/1989

1 The 12 Ways of Christmas, David Jeremiah

A Time For Change

The real risk that we run in calling upon the living God, is not that we might wake God up. Rather, the danger is that God might awaken us. [We] might open our eyes to the ways that God is ever present with us. [He] has been right under our noses, waiting for us to notice. 1

Life seems like a ride in the fast lane with the radio on loud. Pedal to the floor, two hands on the wheel; if we take time to check our blind spot before making that lane change we congratulate ourselves for driving defensively. 

Our cars become our homes away from home. And, if we slow down just a moment to look around the inside of our highway homes we might have to admit that the surroundings reflect the messy, disarray of how we are living our lives.

Half drank soda cans, fast food wrappers, jacket, sports uniforms and gym bags, are just a small part of the rubble inside. 

We are all so busy being busy.

Texting has replace phone conversation with family and friends. And, Facebook supposedly gives us the feeling that we are in touch with one another.

There are many times, exhausted and empty, that we cry out to the Lord to help us. But, we think he is going to answer us as quickly as we operate our lives and when he does not, we easily  become discouraged and continue on in the same manner that lead us to this emptiness in the first place.

Nothing changes. 

Last weekend, my husband and I attended the Medjugorje Peace Conference in Irvine, CA. During the Eucharistic Liturgy on Friday evening, Fr. Joe Grbes, OFM, asked how many of us attended the conference last year. Many peoples raised their hands. Then he asked us, “How have you changed? Are you different than you were last year?”  If you had not changed, what prevented you from changing, and why did you come back this year? What is it going to take to make you change?

His comments made me stop and think, as I looked around, I saw many expressions that lead me to believe that other people might be asking themselves the same question.

God is ever present to us all the time. He is trying to wake us up. He is trying to get us to slow down long enough to take a look at our lives. He is calling us to change. He calls us to union with him, it's up to us to give him our "yes", our "fiat".

“Dear Children! I am looking at you and in your hearts I don not see joy. Today I desire to give you joy of the Risen One, that He may lead you and embrace you with His love and tenderness. I love you and I am praying for your conversion without ceasing before my son Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my call.” BVM, Medjugorje, October 25, 2011.

Notes.1In The Sanctuary of Women, Jan L Richardson

In God's Company 2: I am offering to you the light of the Truth and th...

Share by Ed Sousa, Sr.,

Thank you Ed

In God's Company 2: I am offering to you the light of the Truth and th...: "Medjugorje: Photo taken by my friend Barbara Goodier on October 2nd, 2010 at the time of Mirjana's apparition. A few of us were praying th..."

Family, Our Hope For The Future

I see them joined in prayer and my heart skips a beat,

A sign of His presence in a world that has lost its way.

Could there be a greater witness to the world than a family joined in prayer?

One father, one mother, sharing their greatest gift with their children,

The gift of faith.

Together, as one, they witness with their lives, they pass on true values,

And they teach the importance of commitment to another person.

Family, the domestic church, our hope for the future.

“Dear parents, commit yourselves always to teach your children to pray, and pray with them; draw them close to the Sacraments, especially to the Eucharist.”

“Introduce them to the life of the Church; in the intimacy of the home do not be afraid to read the sacred Scriptures, illuminating family life with the light of faith and praising God as Father.” Pope Benedict XVI 

“Dear children, tonight your Mother wishes to call you, as I have before, to renew prayer in the family. Dear children, families need to pray today. It is my wish, dear children that you would live my messages through family prayer. BVM, Medjugorje, January 1, 1990 



Seek the Grace of Conversion

May 25, 2011 Message to Marija

"Dear children! My prayer today is for all of you who seek the grace of conversion. You knock on the door of my heart, but without hope and prayer, in sin, and without the Sacrament of Reconciliation with God. Leave sin and decide, little children, for holiness. Only in this way can I help you, hear your prayers and seek intercession before the Most High. Thank you for having responded to my call." 

...I am writing this to you so that you may not commit sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one.

He is expiation for our sins, and not for our sins only but for those of the whole world. 1 John 2:1

‘For the sake of His sorrowful Passion have mercy on us and on the whole world.’.... St. Faustina Kowalska

The Joy of Finding Jesus

What a friend we have in Jesus

All our sins and grief to bear
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer ~ Tennessee Ernie Ford


When Jesus is with us, the going seems easy and life seems less difficult.
When Jesus is not with us life seems harder, empty, and desolate.


They had journeyed quite awhile before she realized he was he was nowhere to be found. Fear overcomes her as she runs from group to group looking for her son, “Have you seen him?” she asks.”Please, will you pray that we find him, please?” Turning to her husband with pain and anguish in her eyes she says, “We must go back; he’s got to still be there.” And so they go.


Each moment he is missing seems like an eternity to her. Each passing hour is filled with anxiety. Every child’s voice she hears toys with her emotions as she makes the long way back Jerusalem. She can barely contain her tears. It has been three days and she is exhausted. As she enters the temple her fears turns to joy as she hears his voice. He is teaching the elders. Quickly she makes her way forward to him. He stands up and embraces her. He had remained behind to do the Father’s will.


Oh, the joy of finding Jesus. He that finds him has found a treasure and he who loses him loses everything.

 Many follow Jesus to the breaking of the bread, but few to drinkinking His chalice of suffering.1 Imitation of Christ, St. Louis de Montfort  


"Dear children! May this time be a time of prayer for you. My call, little children, desires to be for you a call to decide to follow the way of conversion; therefore, pray and seek the intercession of all the saints. May they be for you an example, an incentive and a joy towards eternal life. Thank you for having responded to my call." BVM October 25 2010 Message to Marija

Show Unto Us The Blessed Fruit of Thy Womb Jesus

"Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God, above all the women on earth; and blessed be the Lord God, the creator of heaven and earth.......” Judith 13:18


Oh Mary most holy
Mother of our Lord,
Mother of us all

Ark of the Covenant
You carried Him in your womb,
The bread of Life

In humble obedience your bore Him,
Mother of the Redeemer

In silence you watched Him grow,
Cause of  joy

You shared in His suffering,
Our Lady of Sorrows

Remaining sinless throughout your life,
You were assumed body and soul into Heaven

Oh Queen of the angels,
You continue to show sinners the way


"....after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb Jesus."



"Dear children! Today I call you, together with me, to begin to build the Kingdom of Heaven in your hearts; that you may forget that what is personal and – led by the example of my Son – think of what is of God. What does He desire of you? Do not permit Satan to open the paths of earthly happiness, the paths without my Son. My children, they are false and last a short while. My Son exists. I offer you eternal happiness and peace and unity with my Son, with God; I offer you the Kingdom of God. Thank you." BVM August 2, 2010 Medjugorje

One Heart and Mind

Let us shout out our joy and happiness, and give glory to God, the Lord of all, because he is our King, alleluia. (Rv 19:7, 6)

The community of believers was of one heart and mind,

and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own,

but they had everything in common.

With great power the Apostles bore witness

to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus,

and great favor was accorded them all. (Acts 4: 32, 33)

The early Christians lived out the message of Jesus Christ not just in word, but in deed.In joy and humility they shared all they had and no one was in need of anything. They were living witnesses to the faith


Mother Mary,

Please intercede that the light of the Risen Lord makes us like you-joyful witnesses of the Gospel and full of hope.

"Dear children! Also today I desire to call you all to be strong in prayer and in the moments when trials attack you. Live your Christian vocation in joy and humility and witness to everyone. I am with you and I carry you all before my Son Jesus, and He will be your strength and support. Thank you for having responded to my call." BVM March 25, 2010 Message, Medjugorje

The Crucifixion

The Crucifixion

The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Lk 23:34)

When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son!” (Jn 19:26) 3:34)

Then Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. (Lk 23:46)

You commended Your spirit to the Father and died on the cross after You had taken the cup given to You by the Father, because You were ready to accept it.

My Jesus, thank You for having done all this for us. Do teach us to love and to forgive. Strengthen all those who, for the lack of their own love, cannot forgive and destroy each other in hatred. Help us all to accept the Father’s will as You did, because it is the only way to salvation. We pray to You also for the dying; give them strength to commend their spirit to the Father in peace. Take them into Your peace, O Lord Jesus. 1

“Dear children! Today, in a special way, I invite you to take the cross in the hands and to meditate on the wounds of Jesus. Ask of Jesus to heal your wounds, which you, dear children, during your life sustained because of your sins or the sins of your parents. Only in this way, dear children, you will understand that the world is in need of healing of faith in God the Creator. By Jesus' passion and death on the cross, you will understand that only through prayer you, too, can become true apostles of faith; when, in simplicity and prayer, you live faith which is a gift. Thank you for having responded to my call. ” BVM Monthly Message, March 25, 1997

 
1Fr. Slavko Barbaric, O.F.M., Pray With the Heart

Ask not what your mother can do for you...

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13: 1

Last night my husband and I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a home mass with a group of eleven dear friends. The evening started with the recitation of the rosary, then mass, finished with a wonderful meal.

When I walked into the kitchen to help with the meal preparation I saw a plaque on the wall; it was a Mother’s day gift from the host's son and when I read it I thought of our Blessed Mother.


"Ask not what your Mother can do for you,
But what you can do for your Mother. "

This simple message said so much to me. I thought of a mother's love and it was a gentle reminder to pray for for the gift of love, not only for myself and my family, but for the world as a whole.


"Dear children! Today I call you to love with all your heart and with all your soul. Pray for the gift of love, because when the soul loves it calls my Son to itself. My Son does not refuse those who call Him and who desire to live according to Him. Pray for those who do not comprehend love, who do not understand what it means to love. Pray that God may be their Father and not their Judge. My children, you be my apostles, be my river of love. I need you. Thank you." BVM , Medjugorje, March 18, 2010 Message

Intercession

"Then He spoke of exterminating them, but Moses, His chosen one, withstood Him in the breach to turn back His destructive wrath." –Psalm 106:23


As I read today’s passage from the book of Exodus, the word “intercession” comes to mind. Though Israel turns from God, Moses intercedes on behalf of the people and asks God to show them mercy.

Like Israel, we too have turned away from God many times in our lives, individually and as a nation. Our molten calf might not be made of wood and gold, but what we tend to worship can come in many forms; these things lead us more toward self interest and less toward the kingdom and glory of God.

Thankfully, God in His mercy is aware of our weakness and He sends us wonderful angels of intercession to help us find our way back to Him. These angels come in many forms, such as family members, friends or people in our Christian community. But above all these, He sends us the Blessed Mother, Queen of the Angels, Mother of the Living God.

Mary intercedes for us before the Father and she is always asking us to intercede for the needs of the world as well.

“Have them believe and pray; I cannot help him who does not pray and does not sacrifice…The more you pray and fast for the same intention, the greater is the grace and the mercy of God.” BVM Medjugore 8/18/1982


May we all become intercessors for others and the world as a whole.

Hope for the Journey

"Dear children! In this time of grace, when nature also prepares to give the most beautiful colors of the year, I call you, little children, to open your hearts to God the Creator for Him to transform and mould you in His image, so that all the good which has fallen asleep in your hearts may awaken to a new life and a longing towards eternity. Thank you for having responded to my call." February 25 2010 Message BVM



This word came to Jeremiah from the LORD:

Rise up, be off to the potter's house; there I will give you my message.
I went down to the potter's house and there he was, working at the wheel.
Whenever the object of clay which he was making turned out badly in his hand, he tried again, making of the clay another object of whatever sort he pleased.
Then the word of the Lord came to me:
Can I not do to you, house of Israel, as this potter has done? says the LORD. Indeed, like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, house of Israel.  Jeremiah 18 1-6



Dad has been ill with cancer for many years. He has suffered greatly, yet he never complains. His health keeps him close to home most of the time where he spends hours gardening.

Back in November, dad prepared his soil and planted several daffodil and tulip bulbs both in the front and backyard, then he sat back and waited for nature to transform them into the beauty that surrounds his home today. This beauty greets everyone that comes to the door, hinting of the warmth and love you will find inside.

Lord, as we continue our Lenten journey, open our hearts to the beauty that surrounds us this day that we may be transformed and molded into your image as we make our way towards eternity. Amen

Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us.

Seeds of Faith

"Dear children! May this time be a time of personal prayer for you, so that the seed of faith may grow in your hearts; and may it grow into a joyful witness to others. I am with you and I desire to inspire you all: grow and rejoice in the Lord who has created you. Thank you for having responded to my call."

January 25, 2010 Message


Reflecting on Our Lady’s message, I started thinking about my time alone with the Lord.


Being an early riser, I find that hour before the sun comes up each morning to be a peaceful time to be with the Lord; it is my most precious time of the day.


This hour is devoted to prayer, daily scripture readings, and praise. And I always wish it could last a little longer.


But, Our Lord is always calling us to personal time with Him. He invites us to spend time with Him in Eucharistic adoration. He invites us to partake of His precious body and blood in the celebration of daily mass. He offers us peace and forgiveness through the sacrament of reconciliation. His loving arms are always open and everyday He invites us to spend personal time with Him so that the seed of faith may grow in our hearts.

Thank you Holy Mother for always reminding us of the love your Son has for us all.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13