Feast of Our Lady of Fatima

“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear them now.” – John 16:12

       It was my very first prayer meeting. I saw people singing and dancing with raised hands and I thought they were weird. I wanted to sneak out but suddenly, everything became quiet. Then I heard someone mumble some mumbo-jumbo. And then someone else spoke out with the words, “ I have so many things to tell you because I love you,” and he stopped.

       I told myself, “Why doesn’t he not just say what he wants to say? Why announce it? Who is he? And what was that mumbo-jumbo I heard? These people are weird!”

       After months of being “forced” to attend the prayer meeting, I found myself acting “weird,” too. Slowly I understood that, indeed, God has many things to say, and I only have to listen that I may know the truth. God is the God of truth. Chelle Crisanto (ellehcmaria@yahoo.com)

Reflection: God speaks to us in a myriad of ways. The question is, are we listening?

Speak, Lord, and I will listen. Let me hear Your words that I may know what is the truth.

Our Lady of Fatima, pray for us.

15 After Paul’s escorts had taken him to Athens, they came away with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. 22 Then Paul stood up at the Areopagus and said: “You Athenians, I see that in every respect you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around looking carefully at your shrines, I even discovered an altar inscribed, ‘To an Unknown God.’ What therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and all that is in it, the Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands, 25 nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything. Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything. 26 He made from one the whole human race to dwell on the entire surface of the earth, and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions, 27 so that people might seek God, even perhaps grope for him and find him, though indeed he is not far from any one of us. 28 For ‘In him we live and move and have our being,’ as even some of your poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ 29 Since therefore we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the divinity is like an image fashioned from gold, silver, or stone by human art and imagination. 30 God has overlooked the times of ignorance, but now he demands that all people everywhere repent 31 because he has established a day on which he will ‘judge the world with justice’ through a man he has appointed, and he has provided confirmation for all by raising him from the dead.” 32 When they heard about resurrection of the dead, some began to scoff, but others said, “We should like to hear you on this some other time.” 33 And so Paul left them. 34 But some did join him, and became believers. Among them were Dionysius, a member of the Court of the Areopagus, a woman named Damaris, and others with them. 18:1 After this he left Athens and went to Corinth.

R: Heaven and earth are full of your glory.

1 Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights. 2 Praise him, all you his angels, praise him, all you his hosts. (R) 11 Let the kings of the earth and all peoples, the princes and all the judges of the earth, 12 Young men too, and maidens, old men and boys. (R) 13 Praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven. (R) 14 He has lifted up the horn of his people. Be this his praise from all his faithful ones, from the children of Israel, the people close to him. Alleluia. (R)

The truth is what the world needs. There are so many lobby groups in the political arena that are misguided about the truth of the human person. Same-sex marriage is an oxymoron — it cannot be a marriage if there is no possibility of children. Abortion, embryo experimentation and harvesting are all morally wrong. The truth is being silenced by the strident noise of the lobbyists and, unfortunately, many are listening to them. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to speak the truth through us.

I will ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always.

12 Jesus said to his disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. 13 But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. 14 He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.  15 Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.”

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Judges 5-8

MANY THINGS TO TELL

Jesus’ life on earth was short — only 33 years. We could imagine the truth of His words in today’s Gospel: “I still have many things to say.” Jesus is passionate when it comes to describing His Father and the Kingdom of God. Like anyone passionate, you never run out of words to say. We have all of Jesus’ words recorded in the four gospels. Even St. John of the Cross informs us that God has told us everything. In His Son, He has nothing else to say. The Spirit will continue to guide, remind and encourage all disciples as to what Jesus desires to communicate.

         We are really indebted to the Holy Spirit who continues to breathe His power in the lives of so many, empowering them with His presence and gifts. He raises up men and women to communicate the true and loving ways of God. Even though Jesus is absent physically, He still speaks to us through the events and circumstances of our world. All we need are ears to hear His voice — a voice that speaks of peace to His people.

         Another way in which Jesus communicates to us is through the voice of His mother. Today, we celebrate the appearance of Mary to three children in Fatima, Portugal. As always, Mary reminds the people to repent and turn to God. She is a faithful mother, always leading her children to safer pastures.

         Let us pray for attentive hearts as we listen to the messages of our Mother — those apparitions officially recognized by the Church. Let us be aware that God speaks loud and clear in the events and circumstances of our days. Let us listen to the Word of God and obey it. By making ourselves available to God through these means, we will faithfully listen to the voice of Jesus when He tells His disciples: “I still have many things to tell you.” Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

REFLECTION QUESTION: How can you listen to the voice of the Lord, to the many things He wants to tell you?

Lord, send forth Your Spirit and renew the face of the earth. Amen.