 | Monday November 10, 2008
Mary reaches out Her hand and says, “Take My hand.” |
The village of Medjugorje is moving in to their time of rest, while the numbers of pilgrims coming are decreasing as the weather becomes colder. It’s always a nice time to be in Medjugorje, as a pilgrim, because it is much quieter without the large crowds. November tends to be a popular month for American pilgrims. They make up the vast majority of pilgrims at the English Mass held every morning in St. James Church. This was a comfort this past week as America approached the elections on November 4th. On November 1st, the Feast of All Saints, an American priest offered Holy Mass for the elections from the altar of St. James Church, and it was also comforting that not only the Americans, but pilgrims from around the world were praying fervently to Our Lady for the outcome.
Though the outcome of the election was not surprising, it still was a sobering reality that took some time to digest for those of us who heard the news in Our Lady’s oasis of peace of Medjugorje. It is often the case with priests who come to Medjugorje, that they are inspired on the altar in giving their homilies. The priest who gave the homily the day after the election was brief, to the point, but his words gave comfort, bringing the focus not upon the election, but upon Our Lady, regardless of what lies ahead for America through the choice made for our next president. We heard the echo of his homily in the comments made by A Friend of Medjugorje just after the election:
“Our Lady has not come for 27 years only to end the apparitions and then say, “There – here are your messages, the apparitions are over.” No, She has come to hold our hands through one of the most radical changes in the history of the world – a time of turmoil of which we have no precedence.”
We are grateful to be here in Medjugorje, to be interceding for America’s future to Our Lady each evening. In the Caritas Mission House, the morning after the election, the message of Our Lady that we opened up to as we prayed, just after learning the election results, was as follows:
April 21, 1984
This may seem a strange message to receive after the disappointment of the election, and the fear that many have concerning our nation’s future. However, considering that the Resurrection of Jesus took place at the height of the hatred of the world towards the Gospel that Jesus came to preach, and it was in this environment that the Church was born and spread in the midst of great trials, it gave us a different perspective to study these latest events in our nation, especially in light of the Re-consecration of the United States of America into Our Lady’s hands this past July 4, in which we firmly believe that Our Lady accepted.
The Community of Caritas
In Medjugorje
November 5, 2008
Homily given in St. James in Medjugorje.
Fr. Daniel Powell
Harrisburg, PA
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| Fr. Daniel Powell, from Harrisburg, PA offers words of encouragement and comfort to the pilgrims at St. James Church the day after the American elections. |
Picture a mother: she is walking along and her young child is following behind. As they continue to walk, the child slowly catches up to his mother, grasps her hand and the mother squeezes that hand tightly. The child knows that he is safe. The child knows that he is protected. The child knows that he can trust his mother.
Our Blessed Mother wants to do the same for us in the midst of our trials, in the midst of our difficulties, and in the midst of moments when things don’t happen the way that we would like them to happen, Mary reaches out Her hand and says, “Take My hand.” So often we say “but” and Mary says, “Just take My hand.” “But”- “Just take My hand.” She takes our hand. She squeezes it tight, and we know that we are safe in Her hand. We know that She will protect us. We know that She can be trusted.
“Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.” Paul doesn’t mean be afraid and cover your eyes with these. Take seriously your life, take seriously the choices you make, and take seriously the decisions you make. Do not just assume your salvation. “Children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.”
My brothers, evil does exist! If we here today do not think that evil exists then that is exactly what the devil wants us to believe – that evil does not exist, because if we believe that then he can have his way with us. But we do not have to fear, for in the end, God always wins. In the end, God always wins.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom should I be afraid.” My brothers, as we hold Mary’s hand, we have nothing to fear, for the Lord is there at every moment, and our Blessed Mother wants us to take Her hands so that She can lead us to Her Son. Unless you hate your mother and father you cannot be my disciple. Jesus simple means you must put me first, above all other people and above all your possessions.
May we have the grace and the strength to put the Lord, Jesus Christ first. May we trust in His love, and may we grasp Mary’s hand, knowing that evil does exist but that we have nothing to fear. May we allow Her to hold us with Her hand so that we know that we are protected, so that we know that we are safe, for we can trust Her and She will lead us to Her Son.
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Additional Recommended Reading | ||
 Surrender Your Problems To Me |  Who's Driving? |  Dealing With Your Trials CD |
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