Friars Corner: The joy of getting close to Jesus
Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR
Isaiah 35:4-7a; Psalms 146:7-10; James 2:1-5; Mark 7:31-37
We shift gears again this week. Last week for me was difficult. Our brain is wired at conception as male or female. Yet there are influences that also come from our parental ancestral lines. The brain has not developed yet from that first cell. It continues to pick up information first from our mother in her womb. After birth, we are programmed at home, in school and our surrounding culture.
Much of our day we are bombarded by all kinds of persons and things that happen around us for good or bad. We have to learn values to be able to sort out all of these things to make sense of our earthly life. Why are we here? Where did we come from? What are we supposed to do here and where are headed?
Mission of encouragement
At this time I believe most of my mission is to encourage those who read these comments not to leave the Church Jesus Christ directly founded. There have always been some difficulties with some of the leadership. God gives us free will and Jesus was not able to “convert” Judas. Amidst all of these things, we are called to receive God’s gifts and follow him in helping make our world a better place to live. We need divine power to do that. Amen!
These next comments are going to seem strange yet very amazing. First, let us not forget this hymn, though out of season at this time, and with a few word changes to be “modern.” O Come, all faithful Catholics, (not sad, depressed or angry) joyful and triumphant, O come all, O come all to the next Catholic Mass. Come and behold him, born the King of angels; “O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, O come, let us adore him, Christ, the Lord!” Let us not forget that we feed our people with Jesus in the Eucharist and so run out of bread and wine. Yet God has the greatest bakery and winery, His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and only Savior. He is the best spiritual sustenance of our life.
Message from Mother Mary
Second, I am not going to share long words or Biblical commentaries. I now quote the message of our Blessed Mother Mary, given to Mirjana Soldo, a Medjugorje visionary who receives a message the second of each month. This was Mary’s latest very directive and hopeful message.
Dear children, my words are simple but are filled with motherly love and care.
My children, all the more the shadows of darkness and deception are being cast over you, and I am calling you to the light and truth-I am calling you to my Son. Only he can transform despair and suffering into peace and clarity; only He can give hope in the deepest pain.
My Son is the life of the world.
The more that you come to know him, the more that you come close to him, all the more you will love him, because my Son is love. Love changes everything; it makes most beautiful also that which, without love, seems insignificant to you. That is why, anew, I am saying to you that you must love a lot if you desire to grow spiritually.
I know, apostles of my love, that it is not always easy, but, my children, also the painful paths are paths, which lead to spiritual growth, to faith, and to my Son. My children, pray, think of my Son. In all the moments of the day, raise your soul to him, and I will gather your prayers as flowers from the most beautiful garden and give them as a gift to my Son.
Be true apostles of my love; spread the love of my Son to everyone. Be gardens of the most beautiful flowers. With your prayers help your shepherds that they may be spiritual fathers filled with love for all people. Thank you.
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan / wwwmarytv.tv
Pope Saint John Paul II said, “Medjugorje is the spiritual center of the world.”
May this message of Mother Mary be an encouragement for all of you as was her first message to the attendants at the wedding of Cana in St. John 2: “Do whatever Jesus tells you.” May our ears be opened by Jesus to hear these words and our voices proclaim his positive messages of love and care to build up the Body of Christ and not help the demons tear it down. Stay as close to Jesus as fish do to water.
Love, peace and joy,
(© 2018 Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR)
