23rd Sunday C
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Today (yesterday) we celebrated the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
11 of us from the 2 parishes went to Medjugorje where she has been appearing to a few people for more than 26 years. Tens of thousands of people make the pilgrimage there every year because of the prayerful atmosphere, the sense of peace and the beautiful liturgies and devotions. It is also a very international atmosphere there. The English language Mass in the church is preceded by the German and followed by the Italian Mass. At the Croatian evening Mass the Gospel is read in five languages. The Rosary is lead in Croatian and everybody joins in using their own language. During adoration the singing and the prayers come in the most diverse languages. Most of the nations represented there had been at war with each other in the twentieth century. In Medjugorje they peacefully pray together. Our Lady’s first message to the visionaries was a call to peace; peace in the heart and peace in the community. On this Racial Justice Sunday we are called to be at peace with people of all races and nationalities whether we live and work in their country or they live and work in our country. St. Paul lived and worked in foreign countries most of his adult life. In today’s second reading he speaks up for a runaway slave, whose race and nationality is undisclosed.
In Mèdjugorje Our Lady has asked people,
to pray with the heart, and recommends saying the Rosary,
to go to Mass as often as we can,
to read the Bible,
to fast regularly, (the visionaries and many local people fast on bread and water every Wednesday and Friday)
to go to confession once a month.
She also explained that she is the Mother of us all and therefore she loves us all. She would like to be involved in our daily lives just like a real mother and to guide, help and teach us how to live every moment of our lives in accordance with the will of God. She wants to lead each one of us to the love and knowledge of her Son Jesus. This offer is for those who feel the need of her help.
Jesus in the Gospel tells his would be disciples that they must be free of ties. He doesn’t really want them to hate their family only to be willing to move away from them if called to do so and to be able to disagree with them if they do not grow in the faith. Jesus and his Blessed Mother are offering every help we need, it is up to us to make use of it.
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