Dear children! Today I call you to unite with Jesus in prayer. Open your heart to Him and give Him everything that is in it: joys, sorrows and illnesses. May this be a time of grace for you. Pray, little children, and may every moment belong to Jesus. I am with you and I intercede for you. Thank you for having responded to my call." March 25, 2002"

THANK YOU, VICTORIOUS JESUS

Dear friends, you who venerate Our Lady! I wonder if anyone can remain speechless facing the fact of the Resurrection of Jesus? Can anyone retain his feelings and withdraw himself from crying out to the Saviour: Thank you, victorious Lord! Bravo, Jesus! You are our salvation! In you is the source of life, in your light we see the light!

On the day of the Resurrection, what was the state of mind of Jesus´ executioners? What did they feel seeing what had happened? Out of shame and fear, could they show up in public?

Jesus´ opponents went terribly wrong. They wanted to kill Him, but he became eternally alive. They wanted to remove Him from the scene, and behold, He plays His role in the whole world. They wanted to ridicule and deride the King of the Jews, but they had to cry, and Jesus became the King of a Kingdom that has no end.

Jesus' opponents wanted to nail the hands of Jesus, to prevent Him from helping anyone. But they went wrong. Jesus is risen and since then His hands reach many sick, sinners to whom He grants forgiveness, through His hands is given the Blood and the Body of salvation. Since then, His hands are extended towards the poor, the suffering and the afflicted. Jesus´ opponents wanted to nail the feet of Jesus, to prevent Him from walking on this earth. Again, they were wrong. Since then, Jesus became a traveller who reaches the most distant countries, who knocks at every door and visits families and peoples… The world is full of Him. He is in all of the churches, consciences, human hearts. He walks in the world through His servants in Holy Communion and in the sacraments.

Further, Jesus´ opponents wanted to pierce Jesus´ heart, thinking that would be the end of His beating. Again, they were wrong. The heart of Jesus beats since then in the millions of persons, in countless Christians. Since then, every sinner can lay his hand on the heart of Jesus and hear the beatings of His love and acceptance. Jesus´ opponents wanted to shut Jesus´ thirsty mouth, giving Him a bitter vinegar to drink. Again, they did not succeed. Today, humanity receives from this mouth the salvific flow of words of peace, life, forgiveness, love and salvation.

In Medjugorje, Our Lady calls us to listen to these words.

Finally, the executioners lay Jesus in the tomb thinking that this will end the history of a person. However, the history of the New Man and of the world renewed by Him begins here. Death and hatred remained in the tomb and Jesus rose up to a new life. The tombstone is taken away and the door of the tomb became the door of life. What a paradox! What was incomprehensible until then becomes reality. This is why Fr. Rufin Silic, a renowned Franciscan, says: “Christ´s tomb became a mother's womb where new children of God are born. For Christ's faithful, the tomb is no more the end but the beginning of life. The cross is not any more the tree of death, but the tree of life.”

Fr. Mario Knezovic

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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