I am calling you to love and not to judge.
(c)Mateo Ivankovic 2016 J.M.J. March 13, 2017 Dear Family of Mary! In today’s Gospel, we hear more from the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus gives seemingly impossible directives to us. We have heard these words year after year, but they always challenge us. Is it even possible for us to be merciful always, never judge, and always forgive and give, give, give? Only our Savior was able to live this way: [And Jesus said to his disciples:] “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” (Matthew 6: 36-38) Our Lady gave us a message that mirrors Jesus’ words in this gospel. They encourage us to try to live like Jesus, so tenderly and beautifully: “Dear children; Anew, I am calling you to love and not to judge. My Son, according to the will of the Heavenly Father, was among you to show you the way of salvation, to save you and not to judge you. If you desire to follow my Son, you will not judge but love like your Heavenly Father loves you. And when it is the most difficult for you, when you are falling under the weight of the cross do not despair, do not judge, instead remember that you are loved and praise the Heavenly Father because of His love. My children, do not deviate from the way on which I am leading you. Do not recklessly walk into perdition. May prayer and fasting strengthen you so that you can live as the Heavenly Father would desire; that you may be my apostles of faith and love; that your life may bless those whom you meet; that you may be one with the Heavenly Father and my Son. My children, that is the only truth, the truth that leads to your conversion, and then to the conversion of all those whom you meet – those who have not come to know my Son – all those who do not know what it means to love. My children, my Son gave you a gift of the shepherds. Take good care of them. Pray for them. Thank you.” (May 02, 2013) Tender and strong words indeed! I am particularly grabbed by this line: “And when it is the most difficult for you, when you are falling under the weight of the cross do not despair, do not judge, instead remember that you are loved and praise the Heavenly Father because of His love.” Our Lady gives us the way to endure sufferings without sinning! When it is really hard, we can renounce despair and judgment, and instead remember how much our Heavenly Father loves us and turn our suffering into praise. This is the amazing grace of life with God. Sorrow becomes joy! Despair becomes hope! Unforgiveness becomes love! Judgment becomes compassion! Darkness becomes light! God bless us all as we try to live as our Heavenly Father would have us live, to live like Jesus and Mary! In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan ©Mary TV 2017