I am with you in this place…
Dear Family of Mary!
On Sunday, October 10, Denis and I will begin our journey to Medjugorje! There will be about 30 of us in the pilgrimage group, led by Mike Nolan! There is no where I would rather be than Medjugorje. My life has been completely changed and blessed by Our Lady, there in Medjugorje!
Our Lady has told us she is present in Medjugorje. She is with us in that place!! Her presence is what makes Medjugorje so wonderful. It is not the weather, the terrain, the food, or anything else that makes Medjugorje wonderful. It is the presence of Our Lady, the Queen of Peace.
She told us exactly what she is doing in Medjugorje in this message from 2008:
May 2, 2008 “Dear children! By God’s will I am here with you in this place. I desire that you open your hearts to me and to accept me as a mother. With my love I will teach you simplicity of life and richness of mercy and I will lead you to my Son. The way to Him can be difficult and painful but do not be afraid, I will be with you. My hands will hold you to the very end, to eternal happiness; therefore do not be afraid to open yourselves to me. Thank you. Pray for priests. My Son gave them to you as a gift…”
Our Lady is with us in Medjugorje! She comes as our Mother. Her being “with” us has a deeper meaning than just her physical presence, although that in itself is mind-blowing!
In the Bible, when God is about to act, he often announces His plans to a prophet or leader. Take Gideon for example. In the Book of Judges, chapter 6, the Angel of the Lord appears to Gideon. Listen to what he says:
“Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the oak at Ophrah, which belonged to Jo’ash the Abiezrite, as his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press, to hide it from the Mid’ianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, ‘The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor.’ “ Judges 6: 11-12
The Angel announced to Gideon that “the Lord is with you…” This phrase (in Hebrew) meant that God was so near to Gideon that He eclipsed him or overshadowed him. The Lord in His power was looming over Gideon like a powerful storm or presence. This presence of the Lord meant that Gideon would be able to prevail over any enemy. The Lord’s power was sufficient for any battle.
That same word is used in Luke 1:28 when the Angel told our Lady: “The Lord is with you.” It was the sense of the incredible power and strength of God that was so close to Our Lady that it eclipsed or overshadowed her. That powerful presence of God is still with Mary! The presence of God that gave us the Savior, through Mary’s yes, is still with her today as she comes to us in Medjugorje. It is the creative and life-giving power of the Holy Spirit, that comes to save and heal us.
That is why I am excited to go to Medjugorje! Our Lady is with us there, by God’s will. She is there, with the Lord who overshadows her, to be our mother, to teach us simplicity of life and richness of mercy, and to lead us to her Son, Jesus! She is there to accompany us on our journey towards Heaven, holding us in her hands until the end. She is there to protect us from all fear. The Lord is with her!! And she is with us!! Thanks be to God! Alleluia!!!
I will try to write to you all while I am there, but I may not be able to keep up a daily routine. So be patient with me, and know that I and Denis will be praying for you all, in the presence of our Mother!
Please pray for us, and we will pray for you!!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
