Reflection on the message of 12/25/2002

Reflection on the Message of December 25, 2002

A TIME OF GREAT GRACES AND OF GREAT TRIALS

"Dear children! This is a time of great graces, but also a time of great trials for all those who desire to follow the way of peace. Because of that, little children, again I call you to pray, pray, pray, not with words but with the heart. Live my messages and be converted. Be conscious of this gift that God has permitted me to be with you, especially today when in my arms I have little Jesus - the King of Peace. I desire to give you peace, and that you carry it in your hearts and give it to others until God's peace begins to rule the world. Thank you for having responded to my call." Message of December 25, 2002

Also this Christmas, the Blessed virgin Mary gives birth to Jesus, leads us to Him and gives Him to us with the desire and the request that we receive Him as she has received Him. In the fullness of time, God the Father, in His eternal love and wisdom, approached Mary through the angel Gabriel, and asked her if she wanted to accept becoming the Mother of the Divine Child Jesus. God never forces anyone, but attracts; He offers His salvation and never imposes it. Mary spoke her “Yes” in the name of humanity entire, in the name of all generations, in the name of each one of us. Her “Yes” resounds until today. In Mary’s body and heart there was place for God. God bended down to the creature – to Mary – asking her collaboration for His plan of salvation of man. God did not want to be only God. He also became man. The Creator wanted to become creature. This is how He showed the value of man and his capacity to receive and to welcome the Creator. The ways of God’s love for man are unimaginable and inaccessible. God becomes small, insignificant, abandons Himself and gives Himself to men. God knows that man can make a home for Him in his life, and that is why He comes to him.

This is why, in this message, Mary again speaks to us the words: “This is a time of great graces, but also a time of great trials”. In his letter, St. James writes precisely about the utility of trials: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” (James 1:2–3). Our life’s experience tells us that trials go together with grace. Mary’s life confirms it, her life full of trials, suffering and burdens. In spite of it, she sung her Magnificat, because she discovered God as her only treasure. Mary, our Mother, is the most pure result of faith. During her whole life, even in her last trial, which was prophesied by the old Simeon during the Presentation in the Temple – that the sword of pain will pierce her soul – her fait has never wavered. He never stopped to believe that the word of God would be accomplished.

Our faith can undergo severe trials. The world we live in, situations, events, injustices, experience of evil and suffering seems to contradict the Good News of this Christmas event – the Incarnation of God. We have to turn ourselves always again to the witnesses of faith. Hence, one of the most pure, most holy witnesses, one of the examples that stand before us is Mother Mary, whom God gives to us in these days and in this our time. She does not come with empty hands and with an empty heart: today, she holds in her hands the Saviour of the world, the King of Peace. This is how she came on the first day of her apparitions, and this contains the whole programme of her messages, her invitations and her coming: to bring Jesus to us and to lead us to Jesus. The Mother does not cease to knock at the door of our hearts, as she knocked at the doors of the inhabitants of Bethlehem, that they may receive her with Jesus, whom she carried to them under her heart. Until today, she is not tired, although she has found many closed doors of our houses and of our hearts. Also in this Christmas night, she comes to us with Jesus. Let us not remain deaf and blind for this gift from heaven that opened itself to give us a home and warmth in our cold nights and houses. Let us not allow others near us to be cold because of our distance and selfishness.

We thank you, Mother Mary, for the Saviour whom you bring to us and to whom you give birth because of us!

Fr. Ljubo Kurtovic
Medjugorje, December 26, 2002