Mary TV Daily Reflection 10/15/2012

Blessed John Paul II Conformed to the Image of Christ

+ J.M.J. October 15, 2012 St. Theresa of Avila      Dear Family of Mary!   Fr. Kevin Scallon was featured on Fruit of Medjugorje Episode 26, on October 11, 2012, giving his testimony about Medjugorje. He is a wonderful priest, from Ireland, who ministers with Sr. Briege McKenna throughout the world to priests. He spoke in the very beginning of his witness about an experience he had at World Youth Day in Paris. He spoke about Pope John Paul II. As I listened to Fr. Scallon, I realized that what he was saying really connects with Our Lady's most recent message. I realized the Pope John Paul II is a perfect example of someone who fulfills this message of October 2. Read the message again, thinking of Blessed Pope John Paul II:   "Dear children: I am calling you and I am coming among you because I need you.  I need apostles with a pure heart.  I am praying, and you should also pray, that the Holy Spirit may enable and lead you, that He may illuminate you and fill you with love and humility.  Pray that He may fill you with grace and mercy.  Only then will you understand me, my children.  Only then will you understand my pain because of those who have not come to know the love of God.  Then you will be able to help me.  You will be my light-bearers of God's love.  You will illuminate the way for those who have been given eyes but do not want to see.  I desire for all of my children to see my Son.  I desire for all of my children to experience His Kingdom.  Again I call you and implore you to pray for those whom my Son has called.  Thank you."   (October 2, 2012)   We all remember Blessed JPII as an apostle with a pure heart. He was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was illuminated by the Spirit, so much so that his white robes seemed to glow! He was filled with love, so much so that his embraces with the people he met looked ever so much like a father's embrace. His humility was evident in all his actions. And he seemed especially to have a heart for those who do not yet know the love of God. He went on trip after trip, hoping to reach all the nations of the world with God's message of love. He was truly a light-bearer. And most of all he was an image of Jesus, truly one who lived in union with Jesus to the last. And this is what Fr. Scallon speaks about in his witness:   I was invited by some people from the Philippines to go to World Youth Day since it was so near...I live in Ireland and it was in Paris. So a priest friend of mine....I call him "Father Cynic"! ...he really isn't, he is very nice, but anyway...And he said to me, "Have you seen the Pope? Please tell him to follow the example of his fellow bishops and retire at age 75. The pope was actually older than 75 at the time...And I thought, "Gosh what a thing to say."   And I remember being there that day, at the race track in Paris, and the Pope (John Paul II) was there, away in the distance, way up on the altar, but I could also see him on the big television screen right beside me. And I could see how bent over he was, and how slowly and painfully he walked and how weak he looked, and the thought came into my mind, "Maybe he should retire."   But as soon as that thought came into my mind I heard the Lord really speak in my heart and say, "How can he retire from being the living image of my Suffering Servant? And how can he resign from being the representative on earth of my Crucified Son." And then the word, "This is the most powerful phase of his Petrine ministry." Now that struck me!   And of course we know what has happened since then. And the greatest things the Pope has done have happened this year, in the year 2000! [the New Millennium] The most extraordinary things this 80 year old man has done! What man on earth can assemble over 2 million young people from all over the world and have them hang on every word he speaks? And cheer him and not want to leave him after several hours, having traveled from all over the world. I am so glad that most of my priestly ministry I have lived while he is pope.   But what struck me when I heard that word from the Lord is that , yes, there is more to being pope than just being physically well and traveling the world and acting like somebody is commander-in-chief, or chairman of the board, or whatever...It has nothing to do with that. The pope's vocation is to be conformed to the Jesus Christ in every part, every facet of his life, even his passion, it seems to me. (Fr. Kevin Scallon. Fruit of Medjugorje, Episode 26)   We all remember Blessed John Paul II, as his health declined, and he was more and more limited in what he could do and say. It broke our hearts. But we saw in him such love, such commitment, such fortitude. He hung on to life, because he didn't want to leave his sheep. Up to the very end, St. Peter's Square was full of young people who couldn't drag themselves away from his proximity. He was truly conformed to Jesus in every way, a light-bearer for all of us.   We are being asked by Our Lady to become light-bearers as well, in our own small ways. It won't be by becoming chairman of the board...no it will be by becoming conformed to the image of Christ in all things. Like Blessed John Paul II, we can become bearers of the love of Christ to others, in our everyday lives, by our union with Jesus, our faith, hope and love of the Father even in our suffering and weakness.   As we begin this "Year of Faith" may we live Our Lady's messages with our hearts, becoming conformed to the image of her Son. We too, can be lights! She needs us!   In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2012   PS.  You can view the full testimony of Fr. Kevin Scallon at www.marytv.tv - It is Episode 26 of Fruit of Medjugorje!  PPS.  Blessed John Paul II's feast day is October 22!  Let's pray to him for graces to become like him, lights for Jesus!