| November 9, 2011 Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome Dear Family of Mary! "...However, my children, do not forget that you are not in this world only for yourselves, and that I am not calling you here only for your sake. Those who follow my Son think of the brother in Christ as of their very selves and they do not know selfishness..." (November 2, 2011) Our Lady doesn't miss a thing! She knows that we can get all caught up in our own concerns and begin to look too much at our own needs, desires, problems and feelings, especially on the spiritual level. Yes we need to meet the Father, to know Him intimately, and to be in relation with Him. Yes, yes, yes! But the Father is not going to let us stay in that comfortable little world for long. He has a whole family to think about. And so Our Lady wisely tries to shake us out of our self-absorption. There is another dimension to our relationship with God. And it is lateral. To be close to God, we have to be close to God's people, our family, our neighbors, our parish, and everyone else in our vicinity. Why? Because God is located in each one of them just as He is found in heaven. Jesus is in the least of them, waiting for us to find Him and love Him there. Also if we want to be close to God, we should want others to be close to Him too, and that means we bring Him to them as well, for He also dwells in us! I think He is arranging this on purpose! I think it is because He wants us to be happy! He wants us to be happy, deep down. And that happiness comes from living love, from giving ourselves to others, from sharing our life with others and receiving their life in return. This makes us happy! I read an article in Newsweek - (November 7 & 14, 2011, page 9-10) by Dr. Andrew Weil, MD. He makes the case that human beings have a genetic code that suits them for a life out of doors, in nature, with lots of physical activity, natural foods, and a strong socially bonded community. Living in this technological age, with isolation, sedentary life-styles, processed foods, and being alone, with no bonded groupings is making us depressed. He said we were not made to live this way! I think the aspect that is most interesting to me is that we need strong bonded groups. We need others whom we can love and trust and serve and work with. We need family and community! It makes sense. So Our Lady's little nudge to stop being selfish is necessary! We need to take the graces and gifts we receive from the Father in prayer out to those around us, and love them with them. They need us, and we need them! Angela's prayer again comes to mind: God is with me always. He will protect me every day, and save me from my sins. My God, you have the love of all the people. I will love my family as much as I love me. I will be your daughter of love and good. Amen Love, Angela. I will love my family as much as I love me!!! Jesus said it this way: "And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matt 22: 37-39) These two great commandments are designed to make us completely happy! They call us into right relationship with our God in heaven and our neighbor on earth. They orient us to complete fulfillment as human beings! We haven't been put here just for ourselves! We have been put here to create the family of love! In Jesus and Mary! Cathy Nolan PS. Denis and Mike continue to put more witness testimonies up on our website! You can see Sr. Briege McKenna give her witness about Medjugorje on the video player on our home page: www.marytv.tv ! Great stuff!!
| 
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please no anonymous comments. I require at least some way for people to address each other personally and courteously. Having some name or handle helps.
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.