SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #44

And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: "Behold this child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be contradicted." (Luke 2:34)

THE "CONTRADICTION" OF JESUS: In what way has Simeon's prophecy that our Lord should be a "sign of contradiction" been fulfilled? Even when He was an Infant, He was persecuted by Herod, and had to flee. When He began His public life, He met with the greatest opposition, especially from the Pharisees and Sadducees. The inhabitants of Nazareth thrust Him out of their city. The Pharisees slandered Him and said He was in league with the devil; and, on the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple, the Jews wished to stone Him as a blasphemer. He was accused before Pilate of being a seducer of the people, etc.; and His enemies never rested till He was nailed upon the Cross. Even after His Resurrection the opposition to His doctrine and His Church continued. "Christ crucified, unto the Jews indeed a stumbling-block, and unto the Gentiles foolishness, but unto them that are called, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" (I Cor. 1:23-24). And this contradiction on the part of the unbelieving will continue till Christ comes again to judge the world.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

FROM MEJ.COM:

Tuesday November 20, 2007   From Medjugorje - The Catholic Church, a Cozy Little Club?

10-5-07
Fr. Gerry Gallen SJ, born in Scotland, Jesuit Priest from Preston England

"Anyone who listens to you, listens to Me." "Anyone who listens to you, listens to Me." What Our Lord is telling us this morning is a wonderful thing, but it brings with it an awesome responsibility. "Anyone who listens to you, listens to Me." Each one of us here are missioned to be the voice of Christ in this world, so we had better be very careful of exactly what it is that we are telling others, as we speak through our words and deeds, the voice of Christ. Each Christian is called to be a little Christ or a wee Christ in this world. We hear a lot here in Medjugorje about Our Lady's messages. But what use is Her message if it is not listened to? Or carried? What is the ultimate message of our faith? It is, of course, the sublimed "Good News" that we are given through Jesus Christ. It is, of course, through Jesus Christ, Son of God, Son of Mary that we meet the world, through whom we are called to give glory to God and life eternal.

"We all just heard this through the Gospel according to Luke. But let me tell you about the Gospel according to Daniel. I better explain, first of all, who Daniel is. Daniel is my eight-year-old nephew, now living in New Zealand. But before he ended up moving there, three years ago when he was five, I was allowed to go home from my Jesuit mission in England, to my hometown then in Motherwell, Scotland. Daniel had just started primary school. He came back from school in the afternoon, full of excitement and enthusiasm. To refer to him, I wasn't wearing my clerical collar, so perhaps he forgot who I was. But he ran in and threw his school bag down and said "Uncle Gerry, Uncle Gerry, have you heard of this man Jesus?" Before I could say anything he started telling me this story about Jesus. He said, "He was pure, dead brilliant!" And so He was! (laughter) "He was a great man. He did all of these great things. He was amazing. But the Roman police, they didn't like Him. The Roman police arrested Him. They took Him away, and they beat Him up. Then they got a piece of wood," and, of course, being a child he had to explain with his hands as well. "And they nailed this piece of wood to His hands! Then they nailed this piece of wood to His feet! Then they pulled Him up! But then, just before Jesus nearly died, He pulled one arm off and then He pulled the other arm off. Then He jumped off the cross and grabbed the Roman soldier's swords and chopped all of their heads off!" (laughter)

"Obviously Daniel wasn't listening, or maybe wasn't told the rest of the story. So taking the opportunity for a little evangelization, I said to him, "Daniel, you've got the story almost correct. Yes, Jesus was a good man. Yes, Jesus did wonderful things. Yes, He was arrested by the Roman police. And yes, they did nail Him to a piece of wood. But you know, He died." There was a look of puzzlement on Daniel's face. He just couldn't understand this. I said, "But then, Daniel, three days later Jesus rose from the dead." And Daniel paused and then he said, "And then He chopped all of their heads off!"

"We need to have a child-like enthusiasm for the Good News, but we must get rid of childish desires for retribution. In essence, to be bearers of the Word, we must be truly forgiving people. Quite simply, without forgiveness, Christ cannot be present. Hence, the need for the penitential rite at the very beginning of each Mass. The Gospel passage from Luke, we have just heard, tells us part of Christ's missioning of the 72 disciples. Today each one of us is given that same mission by Christ. The very word "Mass" comes from the Latin, missa: to go on mission. It is here in this place, that we receive Christ in word and sacrament, that we are missioned to take that same Christ to the world. In essence, the Church must be an evangelizing Church. Otherwise it is nothing but a cozy little club.

"We are the bearers of the Word today. What happens, here in Medjugorje, is rendered meaningless if we do not allow our experience of the presence of God here to somehow shape our lives away from here. That is the message of a deeper conversion of our hearts which we all need to listen to and then to coin. As we claim to have a spiritual experience here and it doesn't somehow effect how we live our lives in some way, then I suggest all we are getting here is a warm, cozy, fuzzy feeling.

Fr. Gerry Gallen from Scotland, in Medjugorje

"How can we speak of the voice of Christ? Well really, the voice of Christ means, in essence, the less words we use and the more action we put into our lives, the more authentic will that voice be and the more people will be attracted to the Way, the Truth, and the Light.

"St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits and the spiritual exercises which were written to help those who were on retreat, and the pilgrimage is a form of retreat, he asks the retreatant as he meditates at the foot of the cross to ask himself three questions. We can ask ourselves those three questions today here in Medjugorje.

1. What have I done for Christ?

2. What am I doing for Christ?

3. What will I do for Christ?

" If we are going away from this place thinking, "how can I find God when I go home?" Perhaps this little saying will help.

" I looked for God,
But God I could not see.
I searched for my soul,
But my soul eluded me.
I cared for my neighbor,
And I found all three."

Fr. Gerry Gallen SJ

End ♥

As we prepare for Thanksgiving, we should remember Our Lady said, I need you. June 1981 And She has said, I cannot do anything without you. August 4, 1988 And She has said, I cannot do anything without the help of God. I, too, must pray like you. August 29, 1982 So in light of Our Lady's needs, we should also ask:

1. What have I done for Our Lady?

2. What am I doing for Our Lady?

3. What will I do for Our Lady?

Because it was Our Lady who appeared blessing our nation November 24, 1988 in the Field.Click Here

- A Friend of Medjugorje

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Heaven Speaks to Those Who do not Know Jesus: (5) By "Anne," a Lay Apostle

Saturday, 17 November 2007

Anne, a visionary from Ireland, has received permission from her local ordinary, Bishop Leo O'Reilly, for the distribution of messages which she receives from Jesus, God the Father, Our Blessed Mother, the angels and saints. December 21, 2006 Jesus My friend, this is between you and Me. By "this" I refer to both this conversation and your ultimate decision of whether to accept Me or reject Me. When you are asked to make an important decision on earth, you consider your options. You take time and weigh both sides. Perhaps you waver between one course and another. I want you to consider both sides of this decision. If you accept Me, you will have entry into the most loving and secure family of all. If you accept Me, you will have security for the rest of your life in that I will lay out the course in front of you, guiding you, protecting you, and never leaving you. If you accept Me, you will come to heaven in triumph, bringing with you the great benefits that your cooperation secured for your family. You will walk in truth and in calm. Your life on earth will not suddenly become easy, but it will be filled with God's peace and God's grace. If you reject Me, you will continue on, vulnerable to the deceit of My enemy. You will delude yourself at times, thinking that you are wise. Perhaps you will feel superior to many of your brothers and sisters, but I tell you today, in all of My truth, that the most humble one in heaven holds all of God's mysteries in his soul. You will not be privy to these mystical realities if you reject Me. How could you be if you did not want to be? I conclude with one of the greatest truth of all and that is that I do not force My children to choose Me. I do not force humanity to work for heaven. If I did, we would not have a family, but a master and his slaves. No. This is not for Me and this is not for you. The heavenly Kingdom would not be the heavenly Kingdom if it were not filled with willing and beloved children. Everyone in heaven works for each other in great joy. Everyone in heaven works for our family members on earth in great hope. As you read these words, there is great hope in heaven that you will choose Me, Jesus Christ, and embark upon the journey to truth. It is here for you. I have truth and I have a course laid out for you that will bring you to this destination. I love you. I will take care of you. Choose Me and I will begin to reveal Myself to you. You will know peace, My friend. You will know security. You will know joy for all eternity. This is your inheritance and I am your God. Allow nothing to divert you from the truth that I am Jesus Christ and I love you. I come today to announce Myself to you and to save you. Come. Trust Me. Be with Me. I will protect you. For further information regarding the Lay Apostolate of Jesus Christ the Returning King, or to purchase Heaven Speaks booklets, please contact Direction for Our Times on the Web at www.directionforourtimes.com, or mail inquiries to the following address: 9000 West 81st St., Justice, IL 60458, U.S.A.

Children of Medjugorje November Newsletter

© Children of Medjugorje 2007    Permission is given to spread the text of these reports under two conditions: 1) No words are changed and 2) "Children of Medjugorje" is cited along with our website: www.childrenofmedjugorje.com.   President:          Arnold Ochs Vice President:  Sister Emmanuel Advisory Board: Cardinal Jaime Sin Cardinal Bernardino Echeverria, O.F.M.+ Archbishop Frane Franic Archbishop D. Peter Chung Bishop Nicholas D'Antonio, O.F.M. Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer, O.M.I. Bishop Donald Montrose Bishop William Ellis Fr. Daniel Ange Ralph Martin November 15, 2007 Dear Children of Medjugorje, Praised be Jesus and Mary! 1 -    On November 2nd, Mirjana shared the following message after the apparition: Dear children!  Today I call you to open your heart to the Holy Spirit and to permit Him to transfigure you.  My children, God is the immeasurable good and therefore, as a mother, I implore you to pray,pray pray, fast and hope that it is possible to attain that good, because love is born of that good.   The Holy Spirit will reinforce that good in you and you will be able to call God your Father.  Through this exalted love, you will sincerely come to love all people and, through God, consider them brothers and sisters.   Thank you. While Our Lady was blessing, she said, "On the way on which I lead you to my Son, those who represent Him walk beside me."   Was she speaking about priests?  She didn't say. 2 -   A Heavenly Aid at Hand! November is getting to an end and, before we enter Advent, let's intensify our help to the poor souls in Purgatory!  I am awestruck by their proximity that is so loving!   I cannot invoke them without being blessed in return, for the tiniest things of daily life as well as for the big things. For example the other day, I had lost an important document, so I addressed them in this way: Dear Souls, I know you need help, therefore I am going to pray a decade of the Rosary for your quick liberation from Purgatory.   As for you, please, help me find this document again! I had not finished reciting the Our Father when my eyes suddenly were drawn to an odd area of the office where, by accident, I had put that paper.   The same help manifests when we are having a difficult dialog with someone that needs to remain peaceful, or when it comes to receiving some recourse in a spiritual combat.  The poor souls are happy to provide us with great help, all the more since they hold in their hearts the very love that God has for us, without adding the impurities or the defects they may have had while on earth.   They share in the same prism through which God sees us, in pure truth and with great mercy. In Medjugorje, Our Lady reminded us that, when we pray for the souls in Purgatory, we obtain intercessors who, in their turn, will help us in our life, especially not to be attached to material things.   "Dear children, you get lost in material things", she said! ( November 6, 1986).  These souls suffer terribly because, as many holy Mystics of the Church have taught us, the slightest suffering in Purgatory is more painful than the biggest suffering on earth.   It seems they must, then, welcome our help as an immense gift, one for which they are very grateful. However, sadly, I've noticed that only a few priests receive mass offerings for the sake of the poor souls.  Why such an indifference?    Isn't Mass the greatest help we can bring to the poor souls?  It seems that this kind of Charity has ‚ if not disappeared, at least diminished from our Christian habits!   Now one must recognize that some priests are so taken by the compassion of Christ that they even offer themselves to the faithful to celebrate a Mass for their departed ones.   But others, maybe because they are in a crisis with their faith regarding these realities, would just smile in disbelief when we mention Purgatory, (See PS 1).  Fortunately, we are blessed to have the Magisterium and the wonderful Catechism of the Catholic Church to be solidly anchored in the Faith received from the Apostles. (CCC 1030 to1032 and 1472. In the Bible: 2 Maccabees:12, 46). At any time of the year, we are warmly invited to help the suffering souls in Purgatory, but there is a special grace during November.  So, before we enter Advent, how beneficial it would be for the poor souls and for each one of us, to have one or several Masses celebrated for them, or even a novena of Masses!   By doing so, no doubt, we will please God greatly! (See PS 2) 3 - A Ticket for Heaven!  Most people are afraid when they think about their own death, or the death of those who are close to them.  In reality, the Gospa tells us, "Death does not exist"!  It is simply a veil that falls, like the curtain of the temple of Jerusalem that was torn in the middle, revealing what was already there, hidden in the invisible‚ the Holy of Holies!  A picture came to my mind that is inadequate, as is any comparison to this: There are windows with panes that allow us to see from inside what is going on outside, but that prevent people on the outside from seeing inside.   But let's suppose that the glazier makes a mistake, and installs the panes of glass in such a way that those on the inside cannot see outside!  This is what happens to us!  Here on earth we are like the people who don't see those who see them!   This is where the tragedy of unbelief begins, because there is just one small step between not 'seeing' someone, and being totally unaware of his existence.  "Dear children," the Gospa tells us, "you are unaware."  During his mission to Dublin, the seer, Ivan, said to the crowd, "If you could see the Gospa for only one second, all the things of this earth would immediately lose their attraction in your eyes." The saints conquered this lack of clarity and lived as if they could see the invisible.  This allowed them to embrace invisible realities without fearing the day when the pane of glass would break, when the veil would fall.   The Heavenly Court was already familiar to them, and they viewed the passage through the valley of death as a long awaited kiss that would bring them forever into the company of the elect after their exile.  Earth is a time of desire; Heaven is possession for eternity.  Here on earth, if I do not desire Heaven, I am a dying person who can still be revived.   If I focus my capacity for desire on the material world, then I am a dead man and am terrified of the hour of my death, when I will lose all my false treasures.  Being less attached to material things will certainly cause us to 'contemplate eternal life with joy.' Marija has already been given some knowledge about this subject.  The Gospa explained to her that, in Heaven each one of the elect knows exactly what others have done for them, and how, by their prayers, sacrifices and offerings, they took part in increasing the degree of their eternal glory.   Sometimes, the elect realize that the prayers of so-and-so were the reason that they were not lost!  In Heaven, each one of us will be eternally grateful to each one of these people, and we will have a very special bond of love with them.   This reality is marvelous and encouraging, especially when on the earth we do not yet see the fruits of our sacrifices and prayers for those we love.  Here, the Gospa gives us the hope that can heal us of our discouragement!  She helps us invest in real values! (See PS 3)  Dearest Gospa, you see all this and you lead those who are at your school towards the fullness of happiness. Please help us seize the whole gift and not only half of it!  Sister Emmanuel + (translated from French) ________________________________ PS 1 In this case, one may ask the priest to share the official teaching of the Church about the matter, rather than his personal opinion. Then, in a mutual respect, things will be clear!  PS 2 See CDs: ‚"When Death Separates Us From Those We Love"- "The Incredible Secret of The Souls in Purgatory" - "Heaven? Purgatory? Hell? Choose your future!"- Before Christmas, don't forget the CD on Baby Jesus: "Get My Mother‚s Message for the 3rd Millennium!" by Sr. Emmanuel. Also the   following DVDs are available:  #25 (Heaven, Purgatory, Eternity) and #12 (Rejoice With My Angels, I Will Leave a Great Sign).  The Children of Medjugorje webstore link: http://www.childrenofmedjugorje.com PS 3 Extract from the new book, "The Hidden Child of Medjugorje", by Sr. Emmanuel, chapter 51 about death. ***Great News!  This book will be out soon....  Think of Christmas!  Offer this book to your friends and relatives, fill their hearts with hope! Available in Medjugorje at the shops Devotions, tel. +387 36 651 497 or Phoenix Catholic bookstore, tel. +387 36 650 917.   Also, to be available ONLINE at Children of Medjugorje Webstore before Christmas!  Check our site for the latest update and for a preview of the book. The Children of Medjugorje webstore link: http://www.childrenofmedjugorje.com PS 4 The Translation of "The Hidden Child of Medjugorje" is out in German, "Das verborgene Kind von Medjugorje", 22 Euros. Parvis Verlag, Suisse. Tel: +41 269 159 393   book@parvis.ch ‚Äì In Polish, at Wydawnictow Marianow, 7 Euros. Tel: +48 22 642 50 82, sekretarz@marianie.pol.pl The versions in Spanish, Croatian, Portuguese, Lebanese, Romanian, Dutch, Russian, Korean, and Chinese are in the process.  We need to find good translators for translation into Sloven, Slovak, Czech and Japanese! If you have registered and do not receive the report anymore, then please send us your email address again, or verify if our address is not blocked by your Spam protection?!  PS 5 A child is born!  Jelena Vasilj's little new born is called Benedetta, and not Bernadette as Sister wrote by mistake on October 15. In order to receive this monthly report from Sr. Emmanuel in English, please sign up here. In French:  wmmedjugorje@childrenofmedjugorje.com In Spanish: gisele_riverti@mensajerosdelareinadelapaz.org In Italian: info@vocepiu.it   In Croatian: rsilic@yahoo.com In Portuguese (new!):  medjugorjeport@yahoo.com The website http://www.childrenofmedjugorje.com offers these reports in other languages.

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SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #43

"And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed." (Luke 2:35)

THE DOLOURS OF MARY: Mary is, as the Holy Ghost foretold by the mouth of Simeon, the Mother of Sorrows, feeling in her own heart all the sufferings of her Divine Son. The dolours of Mary are usually enumerated as follows:

1. the prophecy of Simeon,
2. the flight into Egypt,
3. the loss of the Child Jesus for three days when He was twelve years old,
4. the meeting of Jesus, carrying His Cross,
5. the Crucifixion and death of Jesus,
6. the taking down from the Cross,
7. the Burial of Jesus.

Mary suffered for a longer time and more acutely than any of the holy martyrs, and therefore she is called the Queen of Martyrs.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

Heaven Speaks to those who do not Know Jesus

By "Anne," a Lay Apostle

Saturday, 17 November 2007

Anne, a visionary from Ireland, has received permission from her local ordinary, Bishop Leo O'Reilly, for the distribution of messages which she receives from Jesus, God the Father, Our Blessed Mother, the angels and saints. December 21, 2006 Jesus Follow this path that springs up before you. Come to Me. Turn in My direction and I will reveal this path that I want you to take. You will feel lightness in your spirit, a relief. You will feel calm. Inside there will quietly burst forth a bud of hope. This bud will blossom, have no fear. The hope you feel in your soul is nourished by the time you spend with Me, seeking truth. I will see to it all. I need the smallest, even the most tremulous willingness. You are hesitant to believe in Me. I know that. I understand everything that has gone before this moment in your life. Remember that I have all universal truth available to Me. In that respect, am I not a valuable person for you to know? Could you admit that I am possibly the most valuable person you could ever know? If you knew of someone on earth who had all truth about everything, who understood the purest facts and possessed the cleanest, most pristine vision of reality imaginable, would you not seek out this person's company? If you were wise, you would do so. If you were a man who desired truth, you would do so. If you were weary of lies and falseness, you would do so. My friend, if you seek truth, you must come with Me. If you seek acceptance, you must come to Me. If you want to be loved, you must rest in My heart because it is the only place where you will find the perfect security you crave. I am with you. I will never leave you. You could not escape My presence, even if you wanted to. You may as well get to know Me better so that you can decide whether you will reject Me or accept Me. This is the ultimate choice that will be yours. Just as you cannot escape My presence, you cannot escape this choice. It is yours. I want you to consider your options. For further information regarding the Lay Apostolate of Jesus Christ the Returning King, or to purchase Heaven Speaks booklets, please contact Direction for Our Times on the Web at www.directionforourtimes.com, or mail inquiries to the following address: 9000 West 81st St., Justice, IL 60458, U.S.A.

Be Not Afraid of the Future

Mark Mallett

—Spiritual Food For Thought—

Be Not Afraid of the Future

 

TWO things. The future is one of hope; second: the world is not about to end.

The Holy Father in his recent Sunday Angelus addressed the discouragement and fear which has gripped many in the Church today.

When you hear of wars and insurrections," the Lord says, "do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end" (Luke 21:9). Mindful of this admonition of the Lord, the Church has from the very beginning lived in the prayerful expectation of the Lord's return, scrutinizing the signs of the times and putting the faithful on guard against recurring messianic movements that from time to time proclaim that the end of the world is imminent. —-POPE BENEDICT XVI, Angelus, November 18th, 2007; ZENIT article:  On Trust in God

The end of the world is not nigh. But the prophetic pulse in the Church is that the end of an era appears to be drawing near. Despite my convictions on this and that of many of you, timing is a question which will remain a mystery to us. And yet, there is the sense that "something" is so very, very near.

It is this "something" which I believe is the cause for hope. That the economic slavery of many in the world will come to an end. That addictions will be broken. That abortion will become a thing of the past. That the destruction of the planet will cease. That peace and justice will flourish.

This "something" is the intervention of Jesus Christ in His power, might, and mercy.

Let us not be afraid of the future, even when it appears bleak to us, for the God of Jesus Christ, who took up history to open it up to its transcendent fulfillment, is its alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. —-POPE BENEDICT XVI, Ibid.

It's utterly impossible for me to build my life on a foundation of chaos, suffering and death. I see the world being slowly transformed into a wilderness, I hear the approaching thunder that, one day, will destroy us too, I feel the suffering of millions. And yet, when I look up at the sky, I somehow feel that everything will change for the better, that this cruelty too shall end, that peace and tranquility will return once more. —Diary of Ann Frank, July 15, 1944

May God… shortly bring to fulfillment His prophecy for transforming this consoling vision of the future into a present reality… It is God's task to bring about this happy hour and to make it known to all… When it does arrive, it will turn out to be a solemn hour, one big with consequences not only for the restoration of the Kingdom of Christ, but for the pacification of… the world. We pray most fervently, and ask others likewise to pray for this much-desired pacification of society. —POPE PIUS XI, Ubi Arcani dei Consilioi "On the Peace of Christ in his Kingdom"

It will at length be possible that our many wounds be healed and all justice spring forth again with the hope of restored authority; that the splendors of peace be renewed, and the swords and arms drop from the hand and when all men shall acknowledge the empire of Christ and willingly obey His word, and every tongue shall confess that the Lord Jesus is in the Glory of the Father. —POPE LEO XIII, Consecration to the Sacred Heart, May 1899

Published in: DAILY JOURNAL, PARALYZED BY FEAR | on November 19th, 2007 |

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #42

And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord: As it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord: And to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons: (Luke 2:22-24)

THE FEAST OF OUR LADY'S PURIFICATION, OR CANDLEMAS: We keep a feast on the 2nd of February, forty days after Christmas, in memory of our Lord's Presentation in the Temple. This feast has several names. First, it is known as the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord Jesus. Secondly, it is called the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. But the usual and popular name for this Feast is Candlemas-day, because on this day candles are blessed before mass, and there takes place a procession with lighted candles. Candles are blessed and lighted on this particular feast, because on it Simeon acknowledged and confessed Christ to be "the Light of the world."

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

Heaven Speaks to those who do not Know Jesus

By "Anne," a Lay Apostle

Saturday, 17 November 2007

Anne, a visionary from Ireland, has received permission from her local ordinary, Bishop Leo O'Reilly, for the distribution of messages which she receives from Jesus, God the Father, Our Blessed Mother, the angels and saints. December 21, 2006 Jesus As I draw you into the mystical nature of yourself, I draw you into My heart. My heart and your heart belong together. When you are with Me, you feel calm and accepted. You feel oneness with others because you experience community in your soul. If I am with each man as I am with you, then you are connected to each man through Me. Do you begin to understand the family of God? I love every man created. I have a good plan for every man created. This is My truth and, as you recall, I can never be where there is deceit. If I have a good agenda for every man created, and I have a good agenda for you, you are safe with Me and all mankind is safe with Me. If connected to Me, each person will serve his time on earth in mystical union with every other person and in mystical union with all of the saints in heaven. We are all connected. After this time of service, each man connected to Me comes home to Me and home to the family that loves him, awaits him, and welcomes him. There is no bad will on heaven's side. There is only acceptance and truth. I have such hope for you, My friend. All of your gifts originate in God and are an outgrowth of God's goodness. If you learn to understand Me, you will learn that I want to use your gifts to create harmony in your soul. When you use your gifts and energy for My purposes, you will benefit the whole world. It must be so because I have said it is so and I can speak only the truth. We are all connected. Would you like to benefit the world? Truly, you are capable of this and this is My plan for you. I have so much to give to you in terms of knowledge and wisdom. Teamed with Me, you will flourish and grow to heights you never dreamed possible. Rejoice. You are resting with God, the God of all. This God tells you today that you are loved and needed. For further information regarding the Lay Apostolate of Jesus Christ the Returning King, or to purchase Heaven Speaks booklets, please contact Direction for Our Times on the Web at www.directionforourtimes.com, or mail inquiries to the following address: 9000 West 81st St., Justice, IL 60458, U.S.A.

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #41

And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord:
(Luke 2:22)

HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE OF MARY: Mary was without sin, therefore she needed no purification. Nevertheless she remained excluded from the Temple for forty days just as if she were an ordinary, sinful mother, and submitted to the law of purification which in no way applied to the most pure Mother of God. Her humility made her wish to appear in the eyes of the world as an ordinary, sinful woman. She wished, moreover, to give an example of obedience to the precepts of the law, her love of her fellow-creatures making her shrink from being a cause of offense and giving scandal by any neglect of the legal purification.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

Heaven Speaks to those who do not Know Jesus

By "Anne," a Lay Apostle

Saturday, 17 November 2007

Anne, a visionary from Ireland, has received permission from her local ordinary, Bishop Leo O'Reilly, for the distribution of messages which she receives from Jesus, God the Father, Our Blessed Mother, the angels and saints. December 21, 2006 Jesus In your world today, there are many claims of goodness. Some of these claims are true. Some of these claims are false. I, Jesus, am not present in lies. I do not rest in falseness. Truth has a pure feel to it and truth does not change. If you want to find truth, look back over time and see what claims of truth have persevered. What are the things that were true two thousand years ago? You will find them if you look to see what has persevered through the ages. Two thousand years ago, it was true that I came to bring salvation. Today, that is still true. I came then and I come today. I come for your salvation. I come so that you will be saved. I come so that where there is falseness, where you are being deceived, I will be present with My truth. Two thousand years ago, there was evil in the world. Today, evil persists alongside good. Does this mean evil is good? Has truth changed? No. Just as truth never changes, so evil does not change. Evil simply changes its disguise. I, God, have not changed My character. When you first know someone, you know a few things about them. As you get to know someone better, you learn more. Over time and with consistent interaction, you begin to know someone well and you can then say that you understand that person. I want you to understand Me. I am truth. To know Me, Jesus, you will have to know what is true and what is false. I will teach you this but it is not something that I can teach you all at once. Truth, in its great depth, must be absorbed gradually. For this reason I invite you to keep company with Me. If you do, I will teach you all you need to know to distinguish between the truth in your world and the deceit in your world. I will teach you to separate good from evil at a glance. I am the great Teacher, the Divine Teacher. With Me comes the light necessary for instant instruction on any given topic. You may say, "Give it to me all at once, God. If you are who you say, you can do that." You are correct. I could do that, such is My power. But you, My friend, are not disposed to accept such an experience because My truth is all about love. Your little heart must be expanded first. We have to make room for all of this truth, which is filled with love. I want you to embark with Me on a journey. Walk with Me. Allow Me to draw you into your soul, into the mystical nature of yourself. Come to Me there so I can introduce you to the great truths about your family, the family of God. You will find such acceptance there. When you rest in My gaze in your soul, you will understand about love. You will, at the same time, understand about heaven, your ultimate home. I am calling to you now and I know that you hear Me. Come to Me. Stay with Me. Give Me the briefest chance to reveal Myself to you. For further information regarding the Lay Apostolate of Jesus Christ the Returning King, or to purchase Heaven Speaks booklets, please contact Direction for Our Times on the Web at www.directionforourtimes.com, or mail inquiries to the following address: 9000 West 81st St., Justice, IL 60458, U.S.A.

From Zenit News: A Martyr's Love Letter

True Love in Martyr's Letter This letter [A Martyr's Letter to His Girlfriend] truly inspired me! It is an incredible testimony to true love and how it is meant to lead us to God. This is the kind of love that I desire to have in my heart and to share with others. I will share this letter with all of the people that I know. Young people like me, need to hear this message.

Thank You and God Bless,

Alicia Leyva M.A., MFTI
Marriage and Family Therapist Registered Intern

http://www.zenit.org
--
"In Cordibus Jesu et Mariae"

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #40

"Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace:
Because my eyes have seen thy salvation . . ." (Luke 2:29-30)

BELIEF IN JESUS CHRIST DRIVES AWAY ALL FEAR OF DEATH: Simeon now rejoiced at the prospect of death. Such a sensation was hitherto unknown in Israel. "Pius Israelites closed their eyes in death, weary of life and submissive to God's will; not altogether hopeless, but full of horror of the future. Death was a thing to be feared, and each new day of life which was granted was looked on as a gain" (Grimm). But all at once every thing was changed. Holy Simeon had seen the Savior, and was now ready to die joyfully. In fact, he did die very soon after; a pious tradition even goes so far as to say that he died before he left the Temple. He was thus the first to take the joyful news to Limbo that the Savior was born and the day of salvation at hand.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

Dead End

Mark Mallett

—Spiritual Food For Thought—

Dead End

 

On your return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have put in your power. I will make him obstinate, however, so that he will not let the people go. (Ex 4:21)

 

I COULD feel it in my soul as we drove up to the U.S. border last night. I looked over at my wife and said, "It feels like we're approaching East Germany." Just a feeling.

Even though our documents and details were in order (based on what our previous border crossings demanded), I knew we would be in for another ordeal.

The American border agents didn't let us down.

They barked at our children, accused us of lying, and after three hours of interrogation, fingerprinting, and contradiction after contradiction, turned us back to Canada. These agents were as hardened as Pharaoh. We even offered to cover our own expenses with letters from clergymen to guarantee our integrity—but the agent said he chose not to trust us! Yes, those Canadian terrorists and their weapons of mass destruction. Indeed, the Gospel is a dangerous thing. (Good thing they didn't find our Rosaries. Indeed, those are weapons according to St. Pio.)

They informed us that as of January, even our one and a half year old will need a passport…

It's interesting since I was just about to write you on the enemy's recent intensified assault on the body of Christ, particularly on families and marriages. His ultimate goal is discouragement. And he has been working overtime on our ministry, as he has on many of you. But we cannot give in. The battle is the Lord's, and He will not leave us even though He appears to be taking a backseat at times. This is the time for faith, and faith is often a walk in complete darkness. Faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. But we must trust God's wisdom as to which mountains He wants moved.

As for our ministry schedule in Washington state this week, we regretfully have to cancel all our events. We send out our deepest apologies to all the promoters who worked tirelessly, volunteering their time to get these functions in place. And of course, so sorry to any of you who planned to attend or have already begun your travels to Washington.

The Lord has permitted this, and so we accept this as His will. But we are listening intently to what He wishes to teach us through it.

 

ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY

Perhaps it is another sign of the times. In several of my last border crossings into the USA the past two years, I have witnessed such a gross abuse of power—not only towards me, but to others—that it has not left my memory easily. A democracy does not guarantee peace. Only God's peace in man's heart guarantees peace. Given the right circumstances, and power turned over to those whose hearts are not governed by goodness, America is not far away from the kind of police state that Germans once thought was impossible in their "democratic" country.

My heart is sad today for those who travel innocently to America but are treated like terrorists. If they treat their neighbour—a Canadian evangelist—like this, how do those of foreign origin get treated? Well, I have witnessed myself how some people hoping to enter the country have been treated like trainees in a Marine boot camp. And the stories flowing from so-called "detention centers" such as Guantanamo Bay are chilling.

 

CRISIS

America is in a crisis. It has become increasingly clear that it is not governed by peace, but by paranoia. St. John wrote that, 

Perfect love drives out fear. (1 Jn 4:18)

In turn, perfect fear drives out love. We drive out love by being suspicious rather than generous; by accusing rather than accommodating; by striking pre-emptively rather than turning the other cheek. Indeed, the war in Iraq is the fruit of fear, based on circumstances which we have since learned do not exist. The fruit has been the death of tens of thousands of innocent people and a ubiquitous war on terrorism which makes the Cold War feel balmy. And now, there is talk again of attacking Iran with a "pre-emptive strike."

What a precipice America is on! The cliffs of fear are high, and crumbling… collapsing. But God always offers hope. Repentance, fasting, prayer. These can suspend even the laws of nature, Mary has allegedly said. 

The grave challenges confronting the world at the start of this new Millennium lead us to think that only an intervention from on high, capable of guiding the hearts of those living in situations of conflict and those governing the destinies of nations, can give reason to hope for a brighter future. The Rosary is by its nature a prayer for peace… —POPE JOHN PAUL II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, n. 40

I will write about discouragement soon. But first I've got to get my family going on the thousand mile drive back home. 

This stop is a dead end.

 

 

Published in: DAILY JOURNAL, SIGNS | on November 16th, 2007 |

Heaven Speaks to those who do not Know Jesus

By "Anne," a Lay Apostle

Saturday, 17 November 2007

Anne, a visionary from Ireland, has received permission from her local ordinary, Bishop Leo O'Reilly, for the distribution of messages which she receives from Jesus, God the Father, Our Blessed Mother, the angels and saints (see article, "Discernment of Lay Apostolate of Jesus Christ the Returning King," Marian Private Revelation section). – Ed. December 21, 2006 Jesus I am Jesus. I am God. I am complete in Myself. I am present in your world and I am present in heaven. You see, I am omnipresent. Even if you wish to, you cannot remove yourself from My presence on earth. I created earth. You might say the earth belongs to Me. All in it, are also My creation. You, dear beloved one, were created by Me. Do I say that you belong to Me? I say it in another way. I say, I want you to belong to Me. I want to possess your heart. Why do I use the word heart when truly it is your soul that I seek? I use the word heart because people characterize the heart as the place where people hold the love they possess. If you have love, people say you have it in your heart. The heart is known as the source of love and the receptacle of love, so I, Jesus, tell you that I want to possess your heart. When it is all simplified, as it should be, I am saying that I want you to love Me. I love you. There is no problem there. I love you today and I will always love you. A difficulty We have is that you do not know Me. The only way for Me to teach you to love Me is for Me to reveal Myself to you, to allow you to know Me. For that reason I come to you today. I reveal Myself to you through these words and through the graces attached to them. If you read these words and sit in silence, you will begin to know Me. If you begin to know Me, truly, you will begin to love Me. Forget anything that tempts you to move away from these words and graces. Rest. Be with Me. Allow Me to teach you about Myself. For further information regarding the Lay Apostolate of Jesus Christ the Returning King, or to purchase Heaven Speaks booklets, please contact Direction for Our Times on the Web at www.directionforourtimes.com, or mail inquiries to the following address: 9000 West 81st St., Justice, IL 60458, U.S.A.

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #39

And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon: and this man was just and devout . . . And she was a widow until fourscore and four years: who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day.
(Luke 2:25; 37)

GOOD WORKS: Simeon and Anna obtained the great grace of faith in our Lord's Divinity by a faithful observance of the law, by fasting and prayer, and a great inward desire for His coming.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #38

And the Holy Ghost was in him. And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost . . .
And there was one Anna, a prophetess . . . And she was a widow until fourscore and four years: who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day. Now she, at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord: and spoke of him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel.
(Luke 2:25-26; 36-38)

FAITH IS A GIFT OF GOD: It was only by the help of the Holy Ghost that Simeon and Anna were enabled to recognize in the Child Jesus the Divine Savior of the whole world, of Gentiles as well as Jews.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

More On The Rider...

Mark Mallett

—Spiritual Food For Thought—

More on The Rider…

The Conversion of Saint Paul, by Caravaggio, c.1600/01,

 

THERE are three words which I feel describe the current battle many of us are going through: Distraction, Discouragement, and Distress. I will write about these shortly. But first, I want to share with you some confirmations I have received.

 

THE COMING "ROAD TO DAMASCUS" 

On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" He said, "Who are you, sir?" The reply came, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. (Acts 9:3-5)

As St. Paul suddenly faced a merciful moment of illumination, so too do I believe this may soon be coming upon humanity.  Since writing Signs From the Sky, several readers have confirmed this sense of a coming "illumination of conscience."

I spoke with one of my colleagues by phone who has no access to a computer. She had the following experience in prayer on the day I posted Signs From the Sky:

I was praying when all of a sudden I saw what looked like a spear being raised, and then a beam of light came from it towards me. For an instant, I began to see my sinfulness… and then this "illumination" stopped, and I felt God's presence. I had a sense that there was more to come, not only for myself, but for the whole world.

Consistent is this theme of a "rider upon a white horse" with a "spear." From a reader:

In the very early morning of November 3, I had a brief dream in this form:  There were several frames of images in a strip, kind of like a comic strip. The image in each frame was in silhouette and each one depicted a horse and rider.  The rider carried a spear and was seen in each frame in a different pose, but always as if in battle.

And from another reader who had a similar dream on the same night:

Saturday night, in the middle of the night, I awakened and experienced the presence of Jesus on the White Horse, His Glory and sheer POWER were awesome. He then reminded me to read the Psalm 45: Song for a Royal Wedding, which I can hardly read for the emotion it solicits in my heart!

Gird your sword upon your hip, mighty warrior! In splendor and majesty ride on triumphant! In the cause of truth and justice may your right hand show you wondrous deeds. Your arrows are sharp; peoples will cower at your feet; the king's enemies will lose heart. (Psalm 45:4-6)

This mother relates an experience her son had within the last six months:

One morning I was sitting on my bed praying when my son came in and just sat for awhile with me. I asked if he was okay, and he said yes (it was not his custom to come into my room and see me before going down for breakfast.) He seemed very quiet.

Later that day, I had been thinking about when and what to tell my son as he got older regarding the signs of the times. At one point in the day, my son came and told me he had a weird dream. He told me in his dream he saw his soul.  He said it was very difficult and when he woke up he was so scared he could not get out of bed for fear of sinning! That is why he came into my room—but he was not ready to tell me about it then. Anyway we discussed it for awhile, and then I just felt like God was telling me not to worry about telling my children about possible things to come, that He, Himself would prepare them and take care of them as long as I continued to lead them to Him.

 

IT HAS BEGUN

I believe the "warning" has already begun for many souls. I have heard over and over again how fellow believers are experiencing painful and very difficult trials. In God's mercy, those who have been responding to the signs of the times have been, I believe, entering into trials which are revealing inner strongholds and sinful structures which need purifying. It is painful. But it is good. Better that these things come out now, bit by bit, than all at once when the actual warning or "Day of Light" comes. Better that the house be repaired room by room than the whole edifice be torn down to be rebuilt.

The consciences of this beloved people must be violently shaken so that they may "put their house in order"… A great moment is approaching, a great day of light… it is the hour of decision for mankind. —Maria Esperanza, mystic; (1928-2004), cited in Antichrist and the End Times, P. 37, Fr. Joseph Iannuzzi; (ref: Volumne 15-n.2, Featured Article from www.sign.org)

This is why Our Blessed Mother has been calling us to prayer and fasting, penance and conversion, for over twenty-five years. She has been preparing us in part, I believe, for this coming moment when every hidden corner of our hearts will be exposed. Through prayer, fasting and repentance, demonic strongholds have been broken, broken limbs have been bound, and sinfulness brought into the light. Such souls who have entered into this process have little to fear in an illumination of their conscience. What correcting is still left will be less a shock, and more a cause of joy that God loves one so much, that He wants to make him perfect and holy!

So again, take every day to amend your life and bring into the light whatever areas of sinfulness God graces you to see. It is a grace—and the reason Jesus died: to take away our sins. Bring it to Jesus by whose wounds you are healed. Bring it to Confession where your sin is dissolved like a mist and the healing balm of mercy is applied to your conscience.

Yes, take this seriously. But remain in your heart like a little child, trusting in God that no matter how terrible your sinfulness seems to be, that His love is greater. Far greater, and beyond measure.

Then your life will be a sign of eternal joy.

…if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. If we say, "We are without sin," we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. (1 John 1:7-9)

  

FURTHER READING:

• Dream of the White Horse 

Published in: DAILY JOURNAL, SIGNS | on November 14th, 2007 |

Rembrandt. The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. c. 1627/28.
Oil on panel. Hamburger Kunshalle, Hamburg, Germany.

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #37

And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser. She was far advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity. And she was a widow until fourscore and four years: who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day.
Now she, at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord: and spoke of him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel. (Luke 2:36-38)

JESUS IS GOD: Anna, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, testified to this, when she extolled the Child as "the Lord," and joyfully announced that in this Child God had revealed Himself as the Redeemer.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #36

And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon: and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel. And the Holy Ghost was in him.
And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. (Luke 2:25-26)

JESUS IS THE MESSIAH: The Holy Ghost revealed Him as such to Simeon, who, full of joy, greeted Him as the Savior of all men, and the Light of revelation to the Gentiles.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)