Mary TV Daily Reflection 2/14/2013

(c)Josip Zubac, 2013
Pilgrims reach the top of Krizevac
Digging deep in prayer!

          

J.M.J.      

February 14, 2013

Sts. Cyril and Methodius

 

Dear Family of Mary!

 

During Lent, we are called to "dig deep". Through self-denial and prayer, we are asked by the Church to open our hearts to the purging and healing powers of the Holy Spirit, in order to be more responsive and open to the Love of God. Today I want to share a beautiful email I received from Olga, connecting this process with Our Lady's recent messages:

 

"Dear children! Also today I call you to prayer. May your prayer be as strong as a living stone, until with your lives you become witnesses. Witness the beauty of your faith. I am with you and intercede before my Son for each of you. Thank you for having responded to my call." (January 25, 2013)

 

Dear Cathy, thank you so much for your reflections. The message of Our Lady from the 25th of January indeed can be seen now in a new light, and I find also the explanation that Rosie gave us very helpful. The "living stone" is a stone that is discovered by someone building a house, looking for some solid foundation for his house, and it is a good image for prayer. We have to dig deep (or "sail into the deep...") to discover the true foundations for our Peace and Joy.

 

You know I come from a country that was atheist for several generations, and the "god" that we worshipped was called "the bright future". People believed that soon communism would come and all their difficulties would one day soon be overcome. It was a great shock for many to realize that this "bright future" would never happen... and many continue in this conviction even now. Only now this big "bright future" is broken into small pieces, individuals now believe in this "bright future" for themselves and their little spheres. "One day soon I'll be rich, famous, I'll provide enough for me and my family..." etc, etc. And this is all superficial.

 

We can also fall into this trap, thinking we know how the Lord will work and the way He will bring about the fulfillment of His Promise. In a way, you can maybe say that Judas believed in this "bright future" when Jesus would be the powerful king and he would be his powerful minister. And when he realized this was all an illusion, he felt deeply hurt and even betrayed. This is no small thing, he was with Jesus for many years, yet his prayer was not as "a living stone"... because he was so concerned with temporal things, so much that he shut the door of Heaven to himself...

 

And Peter, the Rock, he had to go through a purification as well... and it was painful, but he had to "dig deep" and allow the Lord into the very sanctuary of his heart. And in the end, because of his choice and his "yes" to this purification, he was liberated, and joyful and at Peace - truly united to his Saviour!

I also feel very happy about Our Lady's recent message, given on the 2nd of February, it just gives me a deep, deep joy. I am so happy we have a Mother who cares and does not stand aside when Her children do not live in peace.  She comes as the Queen of Peace... showing us the way to Peace. And She is not afraid of "digging deep"... of showing us the very root of our illness, so that we can convert. This is a great grace, a great blessing! Indeed, an amazing grace. I am so grateful for Our Mother, who is there to rescue us and lead us... and show us by Her example, even in this recent message, how to be open to the Truth, so that our prayer becomes "as strong as a living stone".

Always with you, keeping you in my heart and prayers...With LOVE, Olga in Moscow

 

"Dear children: Love is bringing me to you - the love which I desire to teach you also - real love; the love which my Son showed you when He died on the Cross out of love for you; the love which is always ready to forgive and to ask for forgiveness. How great is your love? My motherly heart is sorrowful as it searches for love in your hearts. You are not ready to submit your will to God's will out of love. You cannot help me to have those who have not come to know God's love to come to know it, because you do not have real love. Consecrate your hearts to me and I will lead you. I will teach you to forgive, to love your enemies and to live according to my Son. Do not be afraid for yourselves. In afflictions my Son does not forget those who love. I will be beside you. I will implore the Heavenly Father for the light of eternal truth and love to illuminate you. Pray for your shepherds so that through your fasting and prayer they can lead you in love. Thank you." (February 2, 2013)

 

Thank you, Olga. This is a beautiful incentive for us this Lent. Our Lady calls us to dig deep and to learn love. We have our work cut out for us!

 

In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!

Cathy Nolan

©Mary TB 2013