“Harden not your hearts…”
January 16, 2025
Dear Family of Mary!
Our first reading at Mass today is from Hebrews 3:7-14. Take these words to heart!
“The Holy Spirit says: ‘Oh, that today you would hear his voice, “Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion in the day of testing in the desert, where your ancestors tested and tried me and saw my works for forty years. Because of this, I was provoked with that generation and I said, ‘They have always been of erring heart, and they do not know my ways.” As I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter into my rest.'” Take care, brothers and sisters, that none of you may have an evil and unfaithful heart, so as to forsake the living God. Encourage yourselves daily while it is still “Today,” so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin. We have become partner of Christ if only we hold the beginning of the reality firm until the end.” (Hebrews 3:7-14)
It is very wise to remain watchful, so that no error might creep into our hearts and lead us far astray. It is so important to keep watch!! We must take care!! Our Lady gave us a very similar warning in this message from 2020:
April 25, 2020
“Dear children! May this time be an incentive for personal conversion for you. Pray, little children, in solitude, to the Holy Spirit to strengthen you in faith and trust in God, that you may be worthy witnesses of the love which God bestows upon you through my presence. Little children, do not permit trials to harden your heart and for prayer to be like a desert. Be a reflection of God’s love and witness the Risen Jesus by your lives. I am with you and I love all of you with my motherly love. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
Just as it warns us in Hebrews 3, Our Lady calls us to be vigilant of our hearts, that they not become hardened by our trials. Everything that comes into our lives can be transformed by our love for Jesus. We need only to take it all to Him in prayer, and lay it at His feet. He will strengthen us and give us the wisdom to prevail in the good!
Mother, please help us to be watchful of our hearts, that as we live in this world and encounter many things that could be difficult for us, we will not allow those difficulties to lead us astray. Help us instead to turn to Jesus, the Healer of our souls! He will turn our sorrows into joy, and our worries into deep faith. He will turn our prayer into a garden of joy, as we place all our trust in Him!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
Mary TV
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