Day: March 28, 2019

  (c)Mary TV 2013 March 28, 2019 Dear Family of Mary! “In nature seek God who created you, because nature speaks and fights for life and not for death….” (March 25, 2019) Our Lady sees nature as a wonderful window into the heart of God. She loves nature. In our technological world, nature can seem rather remote and inexplicable. Machines are far more dependable and useful, we think. We can be insensitive to the wonders of nature, and what they speak to us. But Our Lady regularly calls us back to a contemplative encounter with nature. She wants us to learn from creation about the God who made us. Nature fights for life. This is a marvelous insight. Nature fights for life. Plants don’t give up. Animals don’t give up. They keep trying to grow, trying to propagate, trying to live. We are part of that hopeful urge to live. But sin has warped us, and death is now too often the choice we make. On Thursdays, Our Lady has asked us to prayerfully read Matthew 6: 24-34. Jesus tells us to learn from nature about God, the Creator, and what it means to be His creatures in this scripture passage as well. To learn how to live! “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. “Therefore, I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, `What shall we eat?’ or `What shall we drink?’ or `What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day. (Mt 6: 24-34)     “Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all…” Jesus uses nature to show us that we are in God’s hands for everything. The Father is watching over us at all times. He who made the earth and all that is in it, will provide for us as well, if we trust in Him. This trust will protect us from all kinds of sins like greed, envy, lust, gluttony, anger, sloth and pride! When we trust God, we can stop being anxious and worried and self-centered! These sins and weaknesses come from our hearts when we think that we have to do everything for ourselves. That we are all alone, left to our own wiles. Isolated from God, we fight for our life, but in the wrong ways. We fight to take life from others and make ourselves bigger. Trust in God can heal all those impulses. If we trust the Father to care for us, we will stop harming others in our quest to take care of our own needs. So, yes, we can learn from nature. The birds and the lilies show us the providence of the Father. They show us that we are not alone. We have a Father God who is with us to provide for us and love us. With God, we can be free to live! In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!Cathy Nolan©Mary TV 2019 PS. We began a Matching Grant Campaign two weeks ago, and I just want to share that you are doing well!! Donations are coming in! Keep up your prayers and donations so that we can reach our goal of $85,000!! You can donate on our donation page: DONATE