October 19, 2011
Saints John de Brebeuf, Isaac Jogues, and their companions
Dear Family of Mary!
I love Our Lady's messages. No matter how long ago they were given, they still speak volumes to me, if I read them with open heart, prayerfully.
Take this message:
"Dear children! My call to you is that your prayer be the joy of an encounter with the Lord. I am not able to guide you as long as you yourselves do not experience joy in prayer. From day to day I desire to lead you more and more in prayer, but I do not wish to force you. Thank you for having responded to my call."
(August 14, 1986)
Sometimes I take them, line by line, and pray over them, often journaling about them.
"Dear children! My call to you is that your prayer be the joy of an encounter with the Lord."
I am still getting used to the fact that Our Lady actually is calling me. I just never thought about actually being called by her. I see that the Father has asked Mary to come to be with me, and to bring me messages so that I can respond to Him. The Father has asked her to call me. He gave her the job to come to earth and lead me into His loving plan for me. He knows I need her help.
God Himself is calling me, but Our Lady's call is a small call within His call, a little extra help to get my attention. Calling is a wonderful thing. God has created me to be free, to have my own will and my own mind. And so He calls me, invites me to join Him in His great plan for my salvation. I am so blessed to be called. It is His infinite love. Understanding this makes my prayer a joyful encounter with Him.
"I am not able to guide you as long as you yourselves do not experience joy in prayer."
I know Our Lady is right about this. She can't tell me what God is calling me to, personally. She can only invite me to move forward in prayer and service. But the kind of prayer and service are unique to each of us. If I haven't been praying and hearing from God so that I know my vocation, I will not be able to make concrete steps forward. I will be lost in a maze of vagueness. Our Lady wants to lead me in love, but I have my own unique road to take which only God can show me in prayer.
"From day to day I desire to lead you more and more in prayer, but I do not wish to force you."
It makes me feel so safe to know that I am not forced on this road. I am free to choose to follow the Lord's plan for my life and Our Lady will not cross the line with me. She will lead me gently along, by showing me how to pray and interceding for me. She is a beautiful example for me of how to move forward in the Lord, in freedom and dignity and peace.
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