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This is one of two ways of looking at the way Christ interacts with us. We were promised such and such, so there is no need for us to do anything. Imagine a farmer who relies on the Lord and doesn't plant his crop. Not only will his field remain devoid of any plant life (save weeds), but the people needing the crop will go without.
The other is the "The Lord helps those who help themselves." Now we have the farmer who plants his crop, diverts the river to water it, lays down tons of pesticides to keep insects away, and other measures to keep mice and rabbits from eating it. But soon, the rain comes and washes the crops away because of too much water (while the community which relied on the river is lacking water). The crop is tainted from the pesticides, while rot and decay claim the rest. Both extremes miss something important. One says, "Let God do it alone." While the other said "God won't do it so I better."
"Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant which I made with their fathers when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant which they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD. But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (Jeremiah 31:31-33).
"Behold, I will gather them from all the countries to which I drove them in my anger and my wrath and in great indignation; I will bring them back to this place, and I will make them dwell in safety. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God" (Jeremiah 32:37-38).
The notion missed is that of a covenant, an agreement. We follow the Lord in our lives and in our heart, and He cares for us as a loving Father. We bind ourselves to Him and He cares for us.
"Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:29-30). A yoke is a burden. We used to put a yoke on an ox to plow the fields. Christ is asking us to place His 'yoke' on ourselves. A burden which He uses to guide us.
"And He said to all, 'If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me'" (Luke 9:23).
God asks little of us. Consider the painting of God and Adam in the Sistine Chapel. Adam is reclining, almost relaxing, holding a finger out, but just barely. Yet, it is God who is stretching out His arm to Adam. His angels are supporting Him, helping Him reach Adam. With just a little more effort on Adam's part, he would be 'touched' by God. God is doing all He can to reach Adam.
While he was the Archbishop of Krakow, Pope John Paul II said how God doesn't ask the impossible of us (that's His department). We do what we can and He accepts that, uses that. Could the miracles at Lourdes have occurred if St. Bernadette hadn't done what our Lady asked and dig into the soil, releasing the spring? To our eyes, it would be too simple, too foolish. Could the miracle of the Incarnation have occurred if Mary hadn't said yes? In fact, no miracle could have occurred without some human involvement. In fact, if it weren't for the involvement of the priest, we would not have the miracle of the Holy Eucharist with us each and every day.
In fact, doesn't it seem that so few 'miracles' do occur precisely because we either do nothing or want to do everything. We either don't buy the ticket, or try to buy them all. We either sit back and figure God will heal all wounds, mend all schisms, and we need to do nothing. Or we go off trying to get laws passed, revoked, etc. that God works through political action committees.
To each of us, God gave a gift. For some, it's merely to teach their children. For others, to teach a parish's children. But whatever our calling, business, home, politics, military, whatever, the heart is the place we need to place God. Trusting in Him (even if it looks as though we've been abandoned), hoping in Him (even when things look hopeless), and relying on Him. When we do this, and people see that we do this, then what miracles (great and small) might God perform through us.
God makes the plant grow, but we plant the seed.
Tell all of my children: Hasten to prepare yourselves well in this Advent. Consider that you, too, are called to the census and will arrive in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. Ponder the Infinite Love made manifest in the Birth of my Divine Son, Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God.
Will you, each day, journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem with Joseph and me? O! There was no one on our journey who realized that the Messiah was already on earth and would soon lie in a poor manger. Joseph and I knew. So did Elizabeth and Zechariah, but they could not be with us.
Our companions were angels from on high, and they sang joyously of the impending birth of Jesus Christ and marveled at God's goodness. These same angels are ready to help you, my children. They are God's messengers, and they will help to the degree that your faith allows them to help.
Time passes swiftly, and you have become complacent, the lamp of your faith dimming to a mere ember.
O! The evil of satan will snuff out the light of your faith if it does not burn brightly.
O, little children of all the world, I, the Mother of God, plead with you. Let nothing distract you from the true need to prepare for Christmas. This Advent is as real as the first one, my children, and I wish you all to kneel humbly before the Christ Child to receive His Light, His Truth, His Way which is Peace.
Time is critical, little children. I weep because so few wish to love my Divine Son. They are bored and restless because they are ensnared by the world.
Therefore, I solemnly tell you: Put aside the worldly aspect of this holy season. Do not concern yourselves with cards, presents, wrappings and false glitter.
O, little ones, let Christ reign supreme in your heart at every moment! Come closer each day to Bethlehem and greet the King of Kings.
I, the Mother of God, the Immaculate Conception, the ever-virgin and Ark of the New Covenant say to all: The day is at hand when the world shall know that all I have said is true, and the signs God gives shall give glory to His Power.
Awaken from all lethargy. Be strong in your faith, and pray much. Love with Divine Love. Love and live Divine Mercy, for the Hour comes and I seek to bring all into the Refuge of my Divine Son's Sacred Heart.
Know that I love each one of you and I am with you in a special way. Trust in my Divine Son and be a living prayer. I love and bless you. Thank you for responding to my Call!
Go and tell all of my children: I am your Mother, the Immaculate Conception, ever-Virgin Mother of God.
O! I weep because my children suffer so. They suffer dreadfully in body, mind and soul. God permits me to come to offer them hope. But they do not want hope, because they are blind and do not know God, Who is their True Father!
What great faith it takes to believe, little children: Deep and abiding faith in Almighty God in the Most Blessed Trinity. They call out the name of my Divine Son, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, Son of God, and my Son conceived by the Holy Spirit in my Immaculate womb!
This must be the age of great faith for without it you will not believe and hear my words.
O! Little ones, hear me! I want you to hope and trust in my Divine Son, in all of His promises. He is God. He keeps His promises to all who willingly come to Him!
The day of suffering is prolonged because faith has dimmed upon the face of the earth. And as long as my children do not listen, do not hear and change their hearts, the suffering shall only intensify.
O! I solemnly tell you that in these end times I, your mother, have come to plead with all whose hearts are open to the Holy Spirit to willingly offer all of your pains and sufferings in union with my Divine Son's Most Sacred Passion.
Dear children, I call and call, but so few answer and truly believe. This is a terrible sadness for me, for I cannot help you when you remain locked to your human senses, your human faculties. No, dear little ones, this is not the way to God! Seek Him with an open, humble heart through prayer and sacrifice, and you shall find Him.
As Advent continues know I intercede for all of my little ones that they will receive my Divine Son into their hearts in a special way on Christmas Eve! Know I beseech God to pour out His Mercy upon mankind. But it will take many prayers, and willing, loving suffering to cause this torrent of Mercy to come.
But I, your mother, do solemnly tell you it shall come, for it is God's Holy Will.
Join your prayers to the prayers of my Immaculate Heart, and then the moment shall come and my Heart will triumph.
Seek this. Beseech God for it, for you cannot comprehend what is yet to come upon all the world, that Sacred Scripture be fulfilled.
Pray for the Holy Father. He needs many prayers for his cross is almost unbearable and he suffers greatly. Pray, my little ones. Pray much and trust in God.
I love and bless you. Thank you for responding to my Call!
