Today, September 25, 2011, Our Lady appeared to the visionary Marija and delivered the following message to the world: "Dear children! I call you, for this time to be for all of you, a time of witnessing. You, who live in the love of God and have experienced His gifts, witness them with your words and life that they may be for the joy and encouragement to others in faith. I am with you and incessantly intercede before God for all of you that your faith may always be alive and joyful, and in the love of God. Thank you for having responded to my call."
I can't help but think that this month's message is linked to a previous message on 25 November 1997 November 25, 1997 "Dear children! Today I invite you to comprehend your Christian vocation. Little children, I led and am leading you through this time of grace, that you may become conscious of your Christian vocation. Holy martyrs died witnessing: I am a Christian and love God over everything. Little children, today also I invite you to rejoice and be joyful Christians, responsible and conscious that God called you in a special way to be joyfully extended hands toward those who do not believe, and that through the example of your life, they may receive faith and love for God. Therefore, pray, pray, pray that your heart may open and be sensitive for the Word of God. Thank you for having responded to my call."
The word, 'Witness' makes me think. Am I a witness? I don't go round preaching, though if I am asked I will say something. But the people in work know for instance that I go to mass every morning before coming to work and somehow they have figure I like to pray. So I suppose that is a witness. One time before I wondered if my very private spiritual life was enough to fulfill Christs injucnction to , 'Go out and teach all Nations!' So I prayed to Our Lady and was told to start this forum. So for all of us posting here that is a witness, I think and an Apostolate. But I think Bobby's reference to witness in a previous message is insightful. In the Book of Revelation it seems to speak of , 'Witnesses' as those in heaven who gave their lives for Christ , the martyrs. So clearly the highest form of witness is to suffer and die for the faith. So I think Bobby's reference back to a previous message is right and Mary may well be talking of future persecution and indeed current persecution. 10 You are my witnesses, says the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. 11 I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior. 12 I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses, says the LORD. (Isaiah 43:10-12) In its original meaning, the word martyr, meaning witness, was used in the secular sphere as well as in the New Testament of the Bible.[1] The process of bearing witness was not intended to lead to the death of the witness, although it is known from ancient writers (e.g. Josephus) and from the New Testament that witnesses often died for their testimonies. During the early Christian centuries, the term acquired the extended meaning of a believer who is called to witness for their religious belief, and on account of this witness, endures suffering and/or death. The term, in this later sense, entered the English language as a loanword. The death of a martyr or the value attributed to it is called martyrdom. The early Christians who first began to use the term martyr in its new sense saw Jesus as the first and greatest martyr, on account of his crucifixion.[2][3][4] The early Christians appear to have seen Jesus as the archetypical martyr.[5]
I think primarily we witness with our lives by living a life filled with supernatural grace which brings peace of soul, which the world cannot give. Authentic witness is when we are through God's grace capable of living fully what we believe and this comes only through conversion. Also we need to be aware of the distinction between witnessing and preaching. They are two different charisms since witness means to give testimony and preaching is the art of instruction or delivering a message orally. So one can witness by not speaking - and sometimes it is necessary not to cast pearls amongst the swine. But as the darkness deepens it will become all the more obvious who the Christians are! I also sense in our Lady's message that we are going to have to bear witness also by words because we are all going to be put in situations and circumstances where we will clearly have to make a stand for what is right possibly in our jobs, within our parishes and even in our families. Soon, very soon we may be called to give testimony for what we believe and the proof our of prayer life will be evident in our response! Matthew 10 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you
I must admit, Bobby I enjoy the very few occasions when I am actively called to exchange words with folks who disagree with the Faith or aspects of teh Faith. But this is because I am a cantakerous old cod who loves any kind of fight. :wink: :lol: But I doubt if I ever convince, I have much more faith in quiet prayer and quiet witness. I would say it is joy , happinesss and peace that draws folks, like bees to honey. Happiness is such a rare quality..and to see someone happy all the times ..well its a big, big draw.
Great insights everybody... Sorry I have been away for a few days. Went to visit the kids and the grandbaby. This weekend my husband is bringing me, my mom, and my daughter all to Notre Dame for a football game. We are doing the usual complete weekend, Friday through sunday, so we will have plenty of time for prayer and pilgrimage, which the University always is for us. These things are more important than the game, at least for me they are. Looking forward to it. My daughter has never been there. My mom has been to a Medjugorje conference there with us so for her it is a re-visit with a football game added in. My mom is a big football fan so she will love that too. On my husband's last visit,when he took our parish priest to a game, they discovered a large "Nun" museum exibit in South Bend! It adjoined a Studebaker museum that our priest wanted to go to, so they got a special bonus! You just never know what will happen when you go someplace! I discovered it was actually a "Women and Spirit exibit" at the Center for History in South Bend. If we have time we may go there too this weekend. http://www.centerforhistory.org/ These last Medjugorje messages have been very personal, calling us to step up and challenging us to look at the state of our souls. Also challenging us to get to the task of "doing something" with what we have learned and what we feel stirring in our hearts. That is what I get out of them.
