Mary TV Daily Reflection 10/4/2012

(c) Christina Georgotas, 2012 Climbinb Krizivec

+ J.M.J.   October 4, 2012 St. Francis of Assisi   Dear Family of Mary!   "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)   As I read this message, I am amazed to understand that Our Lady really does need us. She needs help. But it is clear that we will be no help unless we are operating in, with and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Left to our own power, we will not be much help at all.   This reminds me of something I read in my personal prayer yesterday. It was a verse from Scripture, found in Philippians 2:13. In my Liturgy of the Hours book, the verse is from the New American Bible, 1970 edition. It reads this way:   "It is God who, in his good will toward you, begets in you any measure of desire or achievement." Phil 2: 13   I had not heard this translation, as I usually read the Revised Standard Version. Here is that same verse in the RSV:   "For God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." Phil 2:13   I was amazed at the difference, so I looked in my Jerusalem Bible to see what that translation said:   "It is God, for his own loving purpose, who puts both the will and the action into you." Phil. 2:13   I love all three versions! But in the NAB translation there is a word that really stands out to me: "begets".   "It is God who, in his good will toward you, begets in you any measure of desire or achievement." As I prayed about this almost visual representation of how God works in me, I understood something. It is about me. In my life I have carried a lot of anxiety. From early childhood I got it in my head that I would never be good enough. And I believed it was totally up to me to make something of myself. So I was a bit OCD about my school work. I would read everything twice, struggle to make my papers perfect, study for tests weeks in advance. I always had a knot in my stomach. I thought my achievements were all up to me. I have operated that way all my life. Not a happy camper.   But reading this verse from Philippians today, it occurred to me that I had it all backwards. My struggle to make myself holy and perfect has been built on my own power. But, I can't do it. St. Paul says, "It is God who, in his good will toward you, begets in you any measure of desire or achievement." It is God who begets in us all that is good, all that is worth doing. He begets it! He puts it there, and brings it to life in us. The RSV says "For God is at work in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." God is at work in us. God is the one doing the work in us. It isn't my work that will make me into what God wants me to be. It is God's work in me! And the Jerusalem Bible says, "It is God, for his own loving purpose, who puts both the will and the action into you." God, out of his loving purpose for us puts the will to do something and the ability, the action, in us. He does it, not me. He accomplishes it, not me.   That is all well and good. But what do I do??? Well the answer is in Our Lady, in her example. When Jesus was begotten in her by the power of the Holy Spirit, all she did was say "yes"! She said "Yes" and God did the rest!! Jesus was Incarnate, through God's action in Mary! And that is our job too. To say "yes" to Him as He moves in us, inspires us, gives us the will to act, and acts in us! We say "yes" and God does it! We can allow the Lord to will and to work in us for His good pleasure!   I am finding a lot of peace in this line of Scripture. I think it may change my life for the better. Less worry and struggle and more trust and joy! God is at work in me. God is at work in you! If we say "yes" we may be able to help Our Lady find the rest of her children!   In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2012   PS. "Fruit of Medjugorje" tonight will be special! Franjo Zubac shares a story from the first days of Medjugorje that we will all enjoy! 8:00 pm Eastern Time!!! www.marytv.tv