[Numbers 11:25-29; Psalm 18; James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-43,45,47-48]
Greetings from Medjugorje. By coincidence [if there is such a thing] our group arrived a few days after the announcement by the Vatican that Medjugorje was now an approved place of pilgrimage and devotion.[1] I have been here once before; two years ago; and found it to be a place filled with peace and prayerful devotion. The number of people attending Mass every day, sometimes twice a day, the number of people attending adoration and the queues for confession in every language you can think of, are testimony that God is doing something very special here.
Everywhere we go we hear people praying in different languages There are priests and sisters [and probably a few deacons, although we can be harder to spot]; the air is filled with joy as people celebrate being Catholic.
As I write this I have just come down from ‘Cross Mountain’ a mountain on the edge of a neighbouring village to Medjugorje where the Stations of the Cross have been installed and a large crucifix at the peak of the mountain. On the way up, we prayed the stations of the cross as a group. There were 11 of us; plus our guide Draga. All around us at each station we could hear first German, then Italian, Spanish, French and on the way down I think we heard either our Korean or Japanese brothers and sisters praying the stations. At the top of the mountain, we said the prayer of Spiritual Communion, which we use at our Sunday Mass, for those unable to attend. This was beneath a cross which stands proudly declaring the mountain as a Holy Mountain marked with the sign of Christ. The people who have been around since the start of the Medjugorje apparitions started, are testimony to today’s first reading where Moses said, ‘If only the whole people of the Lord were prophets, and the Lord gave his Spirit to them all.’
I heard our guide say that initially, she was jealous that she had not been chosen to be one of those who had seen Our Lady. As she matured, she realised that this was not her calling and that those called had been given a tremendous responsibility for the rest of their lives. Our guide has taken her calling to use her language skills and intimate knowledge of the visionaries to share the story of Medjugorje with the visitors from around the world who come to this hilly village in Herzegovina. Everything about Medjugorje points towards Jesus. The calls are familiar to most Catholics: repent, pray and fast, worship God, give God our time, after all, the time we have been has been given to us by God.
For those who doubt the authenticity of Medjugorje, a look at today’s Gospel may help them. When St John complained that others had been casting out devils in Jesus’ name and they were not disciples; Jesus said to him not to stop them ‘no man who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.’ Medjugorje continuously calls people back to the Church. There are people who come here for Reconciliation who have not been in decades. People come here for all sorts of reasons; some like the peace and quiet and may have no interest in God before they arrive, for some they go home the same way; but others feel called to the Lord. Other people come here for a Spiritual experience and find a prayerful haven where they can openly practice Catholic devotions. For me, I have found a place where I can feel closer to God, whether that has involved climbing a mountain or sitting quietly in a chapel before the Blessed Sacrament; I get to feel closer to my God and Saviour.
There is also a message in today’s Gospel for those who discourage someone in their faith. Jesus says there are mighty punishments waiting for those who are an obstacle or who bring down someone’s faith.
Today, we are encouraged to ask ourselves:
Are we for Jesus or against Him?
If we are for Him, how would we demonstrate it if we had to?
What do we do to live out our Catholic Faith?
Our answers to these questions will tell us a lot about our love for God and our neighbour and may help us realise that we need to make changes to our life.
Further Reading
Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
CCC 821, 1126, 1636: ecumenical dialogue
CCC 2445-2446, 2536, 2544-2547: the danger of immoderate riches
CCC 1852: jealousy
Pope Francis grants approval for Medjugorje devotion – Vatican News
Please keep in your prayers this week
- The sick and housebound, those who are dying and those who are grieving.
- Father Jean-Patrice that he makes a full recovery.
- The success of the forthcoming Christians Against Poverty [CAP] money coaching programme, in the pastoral area.[2]
- Those who have no faith or who are struggling with their faith that we can be good examples to inspire them.
- For all in St Michael’s Parish in Tadley as they celebrate 65 years as a Parish this weekend.
Deacon Tony
28th September 2024
[1] Pope Francis grants approval for Medjugorje devotion – Vatican News