And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
(c)Mateo Ivankovic 2016 J.M.J. October 28, 2016 Sts. Simon and Jude Dear Family of Mary! “Dear children! Today I am calling you: pray for peace. Leave selfishness and live the messages which I am giving you. Without them, you cannot change your life. By living prayer, you will have peace. By living in peace, you will feel the need to witness, because you will discover God whom you now feel to be far away. Therefore, little children, pray, pray, pray and permit God to enter into your hearts. Return to fasting and confession so as to overcome the evil in you and around you. Thank you for having responded to my call.” October 25, 2016 Our Lady comes to us to bring us peace. This is her mission from the Father. In this message she tells us to pray for peace. But she links our prayer for peace with the renunciation of selfishness. Peace cannot exist in a soul that is grasping, vane and selfish. No matter how much we pray for peace, if we are in the state of selfishness we will not find peace. St. James also taught us about this opposition between peace and selfishness: “Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity. And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (James 3: 13-18) “The harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace!” Our Lady is forming us into peacemakers. Our ability to make peace depends on our renunciation of selfishness and our desire for Our Lord, to see Him and follow Him. Our Lady told us about what it is like when we love her Son and seek Him instead of our selves: “…My children, all those who love my Son can see Him, because His face can be seen through the souls which are filled with love for Him. Therefore, my children, my apostles, listen to me. Leave vanity and selfishness. Do not live only for what is earthly and material. Love my Son and make it so that others may see His face through your love for Him. I will help you to come to know Him all the more. I will speak to you about Him. Thank you. (March 2, 2016) We may think that giving up our self-concern will leave us vulnerable. But it is really the opposite. The more we leave selfishness and vanity the more secure and safe we will be. We will be seeking Jesus, the One who loves us to the death, who will not leave us alone in trouble but will save us from all our woes. So leaving selfishness is the most secure step we will ever take!! May we ponder anew this great call from Our Lady to leave selfishness, to let go of what is earthly and material, and turn towards Jesus, who will lead us to the Father and to life! In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2016