August 18, 2023 Reflection – Because of the hardness of their hearts…
Because of the hardness of their hearts… August 18, 2023 Dear Family of Mary! In today’s Gospel (Mt 19:3-12) Jesus tells the disbelieving Pharisees: “Because of the hardness of your hearts Moses allowed you to divorce your wives…” The Pharisees constantly argued with Jesus over this or that matter of the Law of Moses. Their hearts were hard, defensive, and joyless, it would seem. And they did not accept Jesus because He spoke of mercy and hope to all the people. Jesus worked tirelessly to free the people from this way of seeing their relationship with God. And He was crucified by those who would not allow their hearts to be changed and healed. In this message, Our Lady speaks about hardness of heart as well. She too is concerned for those whose hearts are hard. And she is rejected by them as well. She told us: March 18, 2014 “Dear children! As a mother, I desire to be of help to you. With my motherly love, I desire to help you to open your heart and to put my Son in the first place in it. Through your love for my Son and through your prayer, I desire for God’s light to illuminate you and God’s mercy to fill you. In this way, I desire for the darkness, and the shadow of death which wants to encompass and mislead you, to be driven away. I desire for you to feel the joy of the blessing of God’s promise. You, children of man, you are God’s children – you are my children. Therefore, my children, set out on the ways on which my love leads you, teaches you humility and wisdom, and finds the way to the Heavenly Father. Pray with me for those who do not accept me and do not follow me – those who, because of hardness of their hearts, cannot feel the joy of humility, devotion, peace and love – the joy of my Son. Pray that your shepherds, with their blessed hands, may always give you the joy of God’s blessing. Thank you.” Mother Mary longs to bring her children into the joy of a loving relationship with the Lord. She has been sent to do exactly that! In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan www.marytv.tv