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March 31, 2011Dear Family of Mary!"Dear children! In a special way today I desire to call you to conversion. As of today, may new life begin in your heart. Children, I desire to see your 'yes', and may your life be a joyful living of God's will at every moment of your life. In a special way today, I bless you with my motherly blessing of peace, love and unity in my heart and in the heart of my Son Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my call."
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"When we look at this parable in light of confession, we need to understand that injustice on the part of the master is not implied at all. Rather, we are presented with a new understanding of the responsibility of man. Only the one who is perfecting himself, who is moving forward, who is growing, who is not worried even about what he might lose, only he can do something good. He can mature and will be rewarded for his growth. The one who prefers to guard his gifts is committing a grave sin. Whoever does not grow - is falling. 'Whoever is standing still should be careful that he does not fall.' "From this parable, we can understand why laziness is one of the seven capital sins. Certainly by laziness we do not mean someone who sleeps an hour extra or is late to school, or who does not finish an assigned task on time. Laziness is reflected in man's attitude towards cooperation with God. If I cooperate in the development of my gifts, then I am industrious. If I do not cooperate in the development of my gifts, I am lazy. If I am lazy, I am never going to become mature, reflecting the image and likeness of God. Lack of maturity represents the most serious resistance to the will of God. God is jealous of the seeds and gifts he has sown in our hearts. He cares about our actions, behavior and conduct. What father does not care if his children are not growing and are not progressing?
"What gardener would not be concerned if the seeds from one flower decided to grow only halfway, and not to their full potential? He would become sad and dejected because he had cultivated the seed in vain. Similarly, man was created to grow."When God created everything, He said all that He created was 'good.' He also commanded everything he created to 'grow' and 'increase'. That is God's will. That is the divine intention for everything that was created, and especially for man. Every created thing carries inside it the laws of growth. There is no seed in the world that can resist growing when there are proper conditions for its development. Only man with his gift of freedom can respond, 'I won't grow.' Man can refuse to grow. In other words, he can decide for laziness. Whenever man indulges that laziness, he is resisting the most fundamental will of God which ordained all living things to grow." (Give Me Your Wounded Heart. p. 23-25) Again, we have the idea of our spiritual DNA, that God given code written deep within our hearts that guides us to become the person that God made us to be. That person has gifts and talents, and also the challenge to use those gifts and talents in accord with the desires of his Maker, to use them in accord with Love! As Pope John Paul II always said, we are to make a sincere "gift of self". We are to give everything God has given to us away!! Give it to others, for their blessing and benefit. So Our Lady tells us to live God's will at every moment of our lives. She wants us to live life to the fullest, constantly striving to love, to serve, to bless, and to increase! She wants us to become everything that God wants us to become. She wants us to say: "yes, I will grow! I will nurture every gift God has given me and I will give myself away at every opportunity! Yes, I will be fully who I am!" In Jesus and Mary!
Cathy Nolan
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