The Heavenly Father
(c)Mary TV July 23, 2019St. Bridget Dear Family of Mary! Our Lady has spoken of the “Heavenly Father” many times in her messages, at least 91 times. She seems to want us to know Him, just as we know Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The Father loves us infinitely. He is the best of fathers. But do we know Him? Do we talk with Him in prayer? Here is one message where Our Lady asked us to grow in love with the Heavenly Father: “Dear children, anew, in a motherly way, I am calling you to love, to continually pray for the gift of love, to love the Heavenly Father above everything. “When you love Him, you will love yourself and your neighbor. This cannot be separated. “The Heavenly Father is in each person. He loves each person and calls each person by name. “Therefore, my children, through prayer hearken to the will of the Heavenly Father. “Converse with Him. “Have a personal relationship with the Father, which will deepen even more your relationship as a community of my children – my apostles. “As a mother I desire that, through the love for the Heavenly Father, you may be raised above earthly vanities and may help others to gradually come to know and come closer to the Heavenly Father. “My children, pray, pray, pray for the gift of love because ‘love’ is my Son. Pray for your shepherds that they may always have love for you as my Son had and showed by giving His life for your salvation. Thank you.” (November 02, 2013) Each line of this message speaks volumes. I like to separate the sentences so that I can meditate on each one, mulling it over in my head, hearing it with the ears of my heart, reading the words with the eyes of my heart, and letting it form images in my mind. Let me offer some thoughts that might emerge as we take this message, line by line. What does Our Lady mean by “in a motherly way?” What do I think of when I think of the motherly way? I thought love was something I had to do by myself. How can love be a gift? I never thought about loving the Heavenly Father above everything! But it is the 1st Commandment. Isn’t it true that unless I love the Father, I cannot love myself or anyone else properly! Putting the Father first in my life could help me to love my family properly. His love could inform my natural love. I usually think of Jesus or the Spirit as being within me. But the Father is there as well! How can I be aware of His loving presence? How can I recognize Him in others? Hearken to the will of the Heavenly Father…. that means listen to Him speaking to me within, showing me the way His love wants to move me and guide me. His will is His love!! His presence gives each person a special dignity. We were made to be in His likeness. Each person, individually. She tells us to converse with the Heavenly Father…just like Jesus did!! Well, that is a start. You can take each word Our Lady says and have a conversation with her as well!! Oh, Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Our Mother to us in these days to teach us the happy way of love that You have given to us as the gift of your heart. You want us to be happy with you forever, through love. May we listen to You in our hearts all day today. We need you. In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!Cathy Nolan©Mary TV 2019