I ponder how painful it must be for the Blessed Virgin Mary to look down on earth from heaven at so much restlessness, war,
division and hatred among people.
In Medjugorje we always wait for Her to speak to us about the increasing tension in the world. In the midst of the furious sound
of sirens wailing, weapons, fear and panic about the future She repeats: “I am with you and I love you with My motherly
tenderness”.
Fear recedes when you are with someone who you know loves you. Words spoken with love bring peace. Mary has been
repeating the same message for almost 45 years: “Return to God Who is your peace”.
The most important thing in the world is peace of heart. Everything we do is directed toward seeking peace. Mary says that we
seek peace in the wrong places and in false sources. Only Jesus can give us true peace. He said: “Peace I leave with you; My
peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid!” (Jn 14:27)
Jesus does not say that wars, sufferings, losses, temptations or inner struggles will not occur. He says that in the midst of all
these things there can exist different kind of peace – a peace that comes not from circumstances but from closeness to God. He
showed us through His own life that this is possible. The communion of saints in heaven also confirms that it is possible.
We ourselves decide how we will experience what happens around us. We choose life or death. Loving the Lord means choosing
life. The Lord said to Moses: “Choose life…” (Deut. 30:19).
We can not choose not to feel pain. Sometimes we cannot even choose our first emotion – fear, sorrow or anxiety. However, we
can choose with whom we will experience what we feel. What will we believe in? Whom will we give our hearts to? For
example, when fear overwhelms me I pray: “Jesus, I am scared but I want to trust You”. When restlessness grips me I pray:
“Mary, lead me to peace even though I do not feel it now”. When it hurts me I implore the Lord: “Lord, stay with me in my
pain”.
The peace that Our Lady teaches us about is not the feeling that “everything is fine” rather it is a profound inner decision to
believe that God is with me now and that I choose Him. Peace is not the result of our own strength but the consequence of our
decision to return to God continually – in every moment and in everything we go through. Experiencing present moment
together with God is true peace of heart.
Mary gives us the means to attain peace of heart. These are prayer with the heart, the Gospel, the Eucharist, Holy Confession
and fasting. Today She reminds us that this is a time for prayer and fasting.
Fasting concerns more than food alone. Mary teaches us to willingly give up whatever has enslaved us so that we may become
freer and more sensitive to the things of God.
Fasting may involve rejection of noise, mobile phone, complaint, condemning others or being critical… We renounce something
in order to create more space for God. Mary’s words remain still relevant today as ever: through prayer and fasting even wars in
the world can be stopped. The peace of one heart may influence the peace of the whole world.
Prayer
Mary, Our Mother, we thank You for Your tender Motherly love. Help us to respond to Your call to pray, fast and return to God.
As we celebrate the 45th anniversary of Your apparitions in Medjugorje this month we ask for the grace to fulfill everything that
You tell us so that Your plan of peace may be realized. Amen.