OUR LADY SHOWS THE WAY

Only a mother can do it in this way. Only Our Lady - the tireless teacher at the school of the grace of God. When everyone becomes tired, gives up, becomes deceived and discouraged, the Mother - the Queen of Peace- seems only to begin with her task. Through her presence in Medjugorje, she opens a space for a new hope, a new beginning and new inspirations. At this Shrine, she has not stopped for more than 20 years now. Our Lady represents God's plan in the modern world precisely through Medjugorje. God sent her among us, and she brings back to God the scattered children of the Heavenly Father. Through each and every message, she brings down to earth a bit of Heaven itself, and through those who are converted, she offers a gift to God, the greatest benefactor and friend of man.

When I reflect upon Our Lady in Medjugorje and on her messages, I am struck almost every time by the fact that she shows the way, opens the door, invites us to the Eternal banquet. Like St. John, she cries in the desert of our world, in the desert of human hearts. Like John, she does not put herself in the stage light. She is the servant, the ambassador
and, said in modern words, Our Lady is the communication media between man and God. Each one of her messages, warnings and appeals indicates the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This is how she opens for us the way towards the Most Holy Trinity.

Just as Our Lady listened to the voice of God and changed the direction and the residence, she asks the same from us. Our Lady wants us to look at our lives and question our belonging to Jesus. She wants to direct our paths towards God on the way of renunciation, of fasting and of prayer. She does not propose any sweet or passing things, but gives
homework to her children. And while some think that she is too demanding, millions of others are attracted to this shrine precisely by these demands. People want challenges and new orientations, and they can find plenty of them in Our Lady's words. To hear and to accept Our Lady's voice and walk on the way she shows is the biggest challenge for a contemporary Christian. Let us not be afraid to orient our paths toward the unknown. Through the intercession of the Queen of Peace, God will undoubtedly reassure us in our fears and uncertainties.

Fr. Mario Knezovic

English translations of messages, commentaries and reflections are courtesy of The Information Centre in Medjugorje and gratefully acknowledged.  Sign up for The Medjugorje Web e-mail information service.   http://www.medjugorje.org