(c) Mary TV 2017
J.M.J.
July 17, 2017
Dear Family of Mary!
“Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me,
and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;
and whoever does not take up his cross
and follow after me is not worthy of me.
Whoever finds his life will lose it,
and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Mt 10: 37-39)
These words from the Gospel for today are always difficult to hear. To follow Jesus, to put Him first in our lives can create division in our families, our work situations, etc. In fact, when we stand firm for our faith, it can develop into quite a cross. We may lose our friends, or be uncomfortable with some of our family members when we choose to follow the way on which Jesus leads us.
Our Lady spoke to us about this difficulty in this message:
December 02, 2013
“Dear children, with a motherly love and a motherly patience I am looking at your ceaseless wandering and how lost you are. That is why I am with you. I desire to help you to first find and come to know yourself, so that, then, you would be able to recognize and to admit everything that does not permit you to get to know the love of the Heavenly Father, honestly and wholeheartedly. My children, the Father comes to be known through the cross. Therefore, do not reject the cross. Strive to comprehend and accept it with my help. When you will be able to accept the cross you will also understand the love of the Heavenly Father; you will walk with my Son and with me; you will differ from those who have not come to know the love of the Heavenly Father, those who listen to Him but do not understand Him, those who do not walk with Him – who have not come to know Him. I desire for you to come to know the truth of my Son and to be my apostles; that, as children of God, you may rise above the human way of thinking and always, and in everything, seek God’s way of thinking, anew. My children, pray and fast that you may be able to recognize all of this which I am seeking of you. Pray for your shepherds and long to come to know the love of your Heavenly Father, in union with them. Thank you.”
Our Lady leads us in a progression. We first have to realize how lost we are without Jesus. She wants us to get to know ourselves, to know how we have gotten lost and need to find God. We have to repent! We need to reject everything in our life that keeps us from knowing the love of the Father. When we reject those things, the cross becomes real for us. We have to change our lives in ways that hurt. But through those changes, that suffering, we can discover the Father’s love, and draw close to Him.
It is precisely when we begin to walk with Jesus, with the Father, that we begin to look different. And it is then that we have to choose to be loyal to Jesus, or to fall back. She tells us we will “differ from those who have not come to know the love of the Heavenly Father…” That is when Jesus’ words make sense. “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;” We don’t stop loving our family, but they may take it that way when we begin to change. This is very difficult. But if we lose our life, we will find it!
Here is the challenge:
“I desire for you to come to know the truth of my Son and to be my apostles; that, as children of God, you may rise above the human way of thinking and always, and in everything, seek God’s way of thinking, anew.”
As we learn to do this, everything will be in its place. We will be able to witness to the love of God. And even if our family and friends are confused by our choices, one day they too will understand. Conversion and change are difficult, but the truth will shine through, and we will find ourselves joyfully united with those we love one day.
Jesus will not let us down. If we lose our life (the former things) we will find our life with Jesus!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2017
