Mary TV Daily Reflection 2/21/2011

The Way of Peace! (C)Mary TV 2010

February 21, 2011 St. Peter Damian Dear Family of Mary! "Dear children!  Also today I call you to prayer, especially today when Satan wants war and hatred.  I call you anew, little children: pray and fast that God may give you peace.  Witness peace in this world without peace. I am with you and intercede before God for each of you.  And you do not be afraid because the one who prays is not afraid of evil and has no hatred in the heart.  Thank you for having responded to my call." (September 25, 2001) The news over the weekend was disturbing.  It looks like the countries of the Middle East and northern Africa are erupting in chaos.  The unrest is like a fire spreading from one land to the next.  Truly, the peoples of those nations must be suffering greatly. When I was praying about this reflection, I remembered that I had drawn the above message from my message box during the rosary on Sunday.  I felt it was meant for all of us.  This message was given just two weeks after the attacks of September 11, 2001.  This message was Our Lady's comforting and wise response to that terrifying event.   We know that it is Satan who wants war.  He has been dividing us from each other since the Garden of Eden.  He wants us to destroy ourselves through war and violence.  Our divisions and hatreds are truly insane.  They are born from the sins that Satan has tempted us to commit, compiled and magnified by years and years of unforgiveness and revenge.   But Jesus became man in order to show us another way.  He brought us the New Commandment of Love, and taught us the way of peace.  In Sunday's Gospel, we heard that we should not resist one who plans evil against us, giving our tunic as well as our cloak, walking not just one mile but two, and giving to the one who asks (cf. Mt 5:38-48).  This is what Our Lady wants of us. "Witness peace to every heart and be carriers of peace in this world without peace."     At Sunday Mass, the priest at our parish told a story about witnessing peace.  He reminded us of the Amish school children who had been shot in their one room school house in Pennsylvania on October 2, 2006.  The killer shot 10 girls, five of whom died.  He then killed himself.  The horror of this event shook the country.  The innocence of the victims made a deep impression on all.  But it was the response of the families and surrounding Amish community that really moved onlookers.  The families who had lost children visited to the wife and children of the attacker, bring them food and offering forgiveness and sympathy.  They even set up a fund to help the attacker's wife and children.  These Amish families lived the way of peace.  Who could not be moved by their forgiveness and love?  Finally, the way of peace that Our Lady offers us helps us to face the future, just as it helps us forgive the past.  "And you do not be afraid because the one who prays is not afraid of evil and has no hatred in the heart."  The way of peace that can only be found through prayer will keep us from fear and protect us from hatred.  How can we fear if we are living each day in union with Jesus, in the arms of the Father, and always comforted by the Holy Spirit?  How can we fear when we know God is God?  And how can hatred find a foothold in our hearts if we invite Jesus into them each day through prayer.  Hatred melts like wax before the fire of Jesus' love.  We will always walk in peace, no matter what, through the abiding presence of the Lord in our hearts through prayer. We should let this message guide us as we live these days ahead.  Prayer, fasting, peace, forgiveness, and love... "Thank you for having responded to my call." In  Jesus and Mary! Cathy Nolan PS. Here again is the link for the 33 Day Consecration of St. Louis de Monfort, for those who are interested.  It started yesterday, but you can still join in!      http://www.fisheaters.com/totalconsecrationmontfort.html          www.marytv.tv

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