Reflection on the Message of September 25, 2006

I CALL YOU TO COMPLETE CONVERSION

"Dear children! Also today I am with you and call all of you to complete conversion. Decide for God, little children, and you will find in God the peace your heart seeks. Imitate the lives of saints and may they be an example for you; and I will inspire you as long as the Almighty permits me to be with you. Thank you for having responded to my call." Message of September 25, 2006

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In many of her previous messages the Virgin Mary spoke to us: "I am with you", "I intercede for you", "I remain with you on your way to conversion", "I am with you and I want you to believe me that I love you".

Even today she is with us, just as she has been with us for all of the 25 years of the apparitions. Our Lady appears not to be visibly present among us in the flesh, but to call us to conversion, to the way of holiness and a new life in Jesus. The seers once asked Our Lady: "Our Lady, why don't you appear in front of everybody, why do you appear only before us?" Our Lady replied to that question: "Blessed are those who do not see but still believe." It is not necessary to see something with our physical eyes. Important things that we need in order to live cannot be seen, but we can sense them with our spiritual powers that God bestowed on us. The same is with Our Lady's presence among us. All those who have believed the Virgin Mary with their open and penitent hearts have experienced and lived up to feel the greatness of God's mercy in their faith.

Heavenly Mother Mary knows that we tend to forget things easily and we easily get used to the good, to blessing and mercy. When this happens, man forgets all about the Giver, the God who gives life and blessing to everything. In spite of our forgetfulness, Mary has not forgotten to call us today. It is a call from the bottom of a heart which loves and feels pain for each and every one that is far from Her heart.

Even today she presents us with an ideal. Even today she is demanding because she wishes us well. She does not call us to partial or superficial conversion. It is a call to enter into the unity with God. Motherly love is demanding. Do not expect impossible from us, but seek what is in harmony with our nature and what we ardently desire in the depth of our hearts. What kind of mother it would be if she did not want the best for her children. She has not come here to tell us what we want to hear, what is easy or what we like at first sight. She speaks of what is for our good and for our true joy and peace. No mother does good to her children if she makes all their selfish wishes come true. A real mother is demanding when it comes to raising her children.

Mary knows where the source of peace that our hearts are looking for is. We cannot fool our heart with things, not even the most expensive ones. A heart knows who its Creator is and therefore cannot be filled with anything less than its Creator. This is what St. Augustine wrote in his confessions who, after much wandering, finally found God: "Our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee."

On the path towards God, and towards conversion there are many who had been there before us – saints. It is why Mary is made an example for us. She is a role model and inspiration. They certainly cannot replace us nor live instead of us, but can intercede for us, give us advice, encourage us to persevere, not to give up and not to withdraw from everything that is good, holy and positive.

As a mother Mary does not give up. She is encouraging us even today. She intercedes for us, loves and suffers for us and often because of us. Let us not make her love, closeness and encouragement be in vain for us and for our lives.

Fr. Ljubo Kurtovic
Medugorje 26/9/2006