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Fr. Stephen Shin’s Reflections on the Messages
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January 25, 2018
"Dear children! May this time be for you a time of prayer, so that the Holy Spirit, through prayer, may descend upon you and give you conversion. Open your hearts and read the Sacred scripture, that through the testimonies you also may be closer to God. Above everything, little children, seek God and the things of God and leave earthly ones to the earth, because Satan is attracting you to the dust and sin. You are called to holiness and created for Heaven; therefore, seek Heaven and the things of Heaven. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! May this time be for you a time of prayer, so that the Holy Spirit, through prayer, may descend upon you and give you conversion.

It is now the year 2018, and as always, Our Lady begins the first message of the year with the words, "Dear children!" These words, though repeated in each message, carry a deep meaning. They remind us that Our Lady loves us constantly and unconditionally. Throughout the 36 years and 7 months of her apparitions in Medjugorje, except for a few rare cases, she has addressed us as "beloved children" in every message. Even when we distance ourselves from her, she has said, "I love you," showing her unwavering love for us. As we begin this new year of 2018, we must remember that we are still loved by Our Lady, that she is our mother, and that she is with us.
      All of Our Lady’s messages come from her maternal love for us. As children, our response should be to open our hearts to these messages, accept them deeply, and strive to live according to them. She tells us, "May this time be for you a time of prayer," emphasizing the urgency of prayer. Therefore, we cannot say, "I’ll pray tomorrow or later when I have time." We must commit to prayer now, regardless of our circumstances. When we put prayer first and act on it, we can begin to pray "here and now." This prayer is for ourselves. Our Lady knows that what we need most right now is prayer for our own well-being, which is why she says, "I hope that this time will become a time of prayer for you."
      Just before His Ascension, Jesus told His apostles, "And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:49). The apostles followed this command and remained in Jerusalem, but they did not wait idly. Together with Our Lady and other disciples, they gathered in the Upper Room, where the Last Supper took place, and devoted themselves to prayer. As recorded in Acts:
      "Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. The First Community in Jerusalem. When they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers” (Acts 1:12-14).
      They prayed constantly, and after several days of prayer, on Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the 120 members of the early Church. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter and the other apostles began to boldly proclaim the death and resurrection of Jesus, leading 3,000 people to conversion through baptism. The Holy Spirit transformed the apostles and disciples into new people, unafraid to spread the Gospel of Jesus. They received the grace of true conversion.
      Our Lady, having experienced the descent of the Holy Spirit both in private prayer and within the early Church, knows that prayer invites the Holy Spirit, who brings conversion. That is why she tells us, "Through prayer, the Holy Spirit will come down upon you, and you will experience conversion."

Open your hearts and read the Sacred scripture, that through the testimonies you also may be closer to God. 

Our actions stem from our hearts, not just our minds. When we make decisions, we often say, "I will do what my heart desires." If we desire holiness, we seek and act in holy ways. If we desire worldly things, we pursue worldly actions. Our Lady urges us to open our hearts to holiness, to open our hearts to God. She invites us to read the scriptures, where we encounter God’s love, His works, and His desire for us to live faithfully. The Bible is full of stories of faith and betrayal, of how humanity has responded to God. By reading scripture, we learn more about God and how we should live.
      St. Jerome said, "Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ." The best way to know the scriptures is to read them. While Bible study can help, nothing compares to reading scripture prayerfully. We mustn’t claim ignorance as a reason to avoid scripture. Our Lady encourages us, "Open your hearts and read the scriptures." When we pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and read the scriptures with an open heart, the Holy Spirit will help us understand and grow closer to God. Let’s make time daily to read scripture.

Above everything, little children, seek God and the things of God and leave earthly ones to the earth, because Satan is attracting you to the dust and sin.

According to Genesis, God formed man from the dust of the earth, but it was only after He breathed life into him that man became alive. Without God’s breath, we are mere dust. Satan wants to rob us of God’s breath, suffocating us spiritually and reducing us to dust. He tempts us to sin because sin blocks our access to God, preventing us from receiving true life and freedom. Without God, even if we possess everything in this world, our lives are empty. Satan knows this well, so he distracts us with earthly things and keeps us from seeking God. Jesus warns us, “No one can serve two masters.He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon" (Mt 6:24).
      While we need food, clothing, and shelter, these should not dominate our lives. They are tools, not our life’s purpose. Jesus tells us to seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness,* and all these things will be given you besides" (Mt 6:33). Trust in God to provide what we need.

You are called to holiness and created for Heaven; therefore, seek Heaven and the things of Heaven. Thank you for having responded to my call.

God created us in His image, so we are called to live holy lives. St. Paul reminds us that “God did not call us to impurity but to holiness” (1 The 4:7), and St. Peter urges us to "be holy in all your conduct" (1 Pt 1:15). Our Lady reaffirms this, reminding us that we are called to holiness.
      The letter to the Hebrews tells us, "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). Holiness is the condition for seeing God, both in this life and in Heaven.
      Some argue that we should focus on living in harmony here on Earth rather than seeking Heaven. While it is essential to create peace on Earth, this world is not eternal; it will pass away. Our final destination is Heaven, where we will see God face to face. Our Lady tells us to seek Heaven and eternal life with God, and in doing so, we will also find peace and joy on Earth.
   
 
 
December 25, 2017
"Dear children! Today I am bringing to you my Son Jesus for Him to give you His peace and blessing. I am calling all of you, little children, to live and witness the graces and the gifts which you have received. Do not be afraid. Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you the strength to be joyful witnesses and people of peace and hope. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! Today I am bringing to you my Son Jesus for Him to give you His peace and blessing. 

In this month’s message, Mary, referring to Jesus as her Son, reminds us of her humble origins as a virgin from Nazareth, a small village of only 400 people at the time. When Philip told Nathanael about Jesus, the latter expressed doubt, saying, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" (Jn 1:46). Yet, God chose this insignificant town and a humble woman, Mary, to be the mother of His Son, Jesus.
      Mary was supposed to give birth in Nazareth, but God had other plans. Jesus, as the Messiah, had to be born in Bethlehem, the city of David, to fulfill the prophecy. Due to a Roman census, Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born. This shows God’s providence in ensuring His Son was born in Bethlehem, the ancestral home of David.
Bethlehem, too, was a small town with only about 300 residents, compared to Jerusalem’s 40,000. Yet, it was in this small village that God chose to bring His Son into the world. The first people to witness the newborn Jesus, apart from Mary and Joseph, were shepherds in the nearby fields, as described in the Gospel of Luke:
      "Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest. and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Lk 2:8-14).
      The shepherds believed the message and went to Bethlehem to see the child. They were filled with joy and praised God for what they had witnessed.
This event from 2,000 years ago is not merely a story of the past. Just as Mary brought the Savior into the world in Bethlehem, she continues to bring Jesus to us today through places like Medjugorje. In the same way Bethlehem was a small, unnoticed village, so was Medjugorje, where the Virgin Mary has appeared since 1981. The population of Medjugorje in 1981 was very small, much like Bethlehem, but it has grown over the years.
      God chose Medjugorje to be a new Bethlehem, where through Mary’s apparitions, we are reminded that Jesus lives and that He alone can bring us true peace and blessing. Just as the shepherds hurried to Bethlehem to see Jesus, we too must respond to Mary’s call, listen to her message, and adore Jesus as our living God, King of Peace, and Savior.

I am calling all of you, little children, to live and witness the graces and the gifts which you have received. Do not be afraid. Pray for the Holy Spirit to give you the strength to be joyful witnesses and people of peace and hope. Thank you for having responded to my call.

God is merciful and love itself. The graces He gives us are expressions of His boundless mercy and love. These graces, freely given, must be received with gratitude and treasured.
The Holy Spirit bestows different gifts upon us for the common good. When we humbly use these gifts for God’s glory and the salvation of others, they are put to their proper use. St. Paul speaks of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the following way:
      "Now in regard to spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be unaware. You know how, when you were pagans, you were constantly attracted and led away to mute idols. Therefore, I tell you that nobody speaking by the spirit of God says, “Jesus be accursed.” And no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the holy Spirit. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit” (1 Cor 12:1-7).
      God, in His great love, has given us many graces and gifts. These gifts are not meant to be kept to ourselves but should be used for the glory of God and the good of others. Let us reflect on the specific gifts we have received, give thanks for them, and make a plan for how we can better use them to serve God and others.
      As St. Paul says, "If we live by the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit" (Gal 5:25). We have nothing to fear because the Holy Spirit is with us. We are never alone. Having received the fullness of the Holy Spirit through baptism and confirmation, we live with the Spirit’s guidance and should always pray for His help. Whenever we feel fear or uncertainty, we must kneel and pray for the Holy Spirit to come and dispel our fears.
      "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law" (Gal 5:22-23). When we pray earnestly for the fruits of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit will not refuse. By relying on the strength and fruits the Holy Spirit provides, we can live out and bear witness to the graces and gifts we have received from God. We will become people who seek peace and never lose hope in any situation.
   
 
 
November 25, 2017
"Dear children! In this time of grace, I call you to prayer. Pray and seek peace, little children. He who came here on earth to give you His peace, regardless of who you are and what you are – He, my Son, your Brother – through me is calling you to conversion, because without God you do not have a future or eternal life. Therefore, believe and pray and live in grace and the expectation of your personal meeting with Him. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! In this time of grace, I call you to prayer. Pray and seek peace, little children.

Mary reminds us that this is a time of grace, an opportunity for us to turn to prayer and seek peace. Just as we acknowledge simple acts as grace, like the strength to survive or endure hardships, so too must we recognize the abundant grace we live in every day. Even amid daily struggles, the presence of family, health, work, and the ability to face life’s challenges is a sign of God’s grace. Gratitude for these graces should naturally lead us to prayer, as Mary calls us to turn the gifts we've received into a source of spiritual renewal.
      As the end of the year approaches, this is a good time to reflect on how we have used the grace given to us. Rather than being swept up in the festive and busy atmosphere of year-end gatherings, we should turn to quiet moments of gratitude and prayer, thanking God for all the blessings of the past year. In this way, we can find the peace that comes only from encountering the Prince of Peace, Jesus, in prayer.

He who came here on earth to give you His peace, regardless of who you are and what you are – He, my Son, your Brother – through me is calling you to conversion, because without God you do not have a future or eternal life. 

Psalm 139 reminds us that God knows everything about us: "Lord, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. You sift through my travels and my rest; with all my ways you are familiar. Even before a word is on my tongue, Lord, you know it all” (Ps 139:1-4). God knows our innermost thoughts and actions, whether we live in faith or sin, whether we are selfless or selfish, or whether we long for heavenly things or are consumed by worldly desires. Jesus, as the Son of God, knows everything about us—our weaknesses, sins, and faults—but despite all of this, He came to bring us peace. He became our brother, sharing in our humanity, to extend His peace to us, purely out of His divine love and mercy.
      The proper response to this overwhelming mercy is to make Jesus the center of our lives. True conversion happens when we remove anything that stands between us and Jesus, allowing Him to take first place in our hearts. Conversion is about letting go of everything that distracts us from Jesus and making Him our priority.
      A converted heart is one reconciled with God, where God takes control, leading the way. When we have faith in God and trust in His guidance, we can confidently say, like the psalmist, "The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing... Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me" (Ps 23:1, 4).
      A life led by God has a future, and that future is eternal, stretching beyond this world into heaven. This is the promise for those who respond to Jesus' call to conversion.

Therefore, believe and pray and live in grace and the expectation of your personal meeting with Him. Thank you for having responded to my call.

Conversion begins with faith and is deepened through prayer. Prayer is our personal encounter with Jesus. Just as we build relationships with others through frequent conversations, so must we spend time with Jesus in prayer to grow closer to Him. Without regular, personal encounters with Jesus, our relationship with Him cannot grow, and neither can our faith.
      Mary encourages us to live with the expectation of meeting Jesus personally, and to live in the grace that such encounters will bring. By doing so, we can deepen our connection with Him and receive the peace and joy that flow from His presence in our lives.
   
 
 
October 25, 2017
"Dear children! I am calling you to be prayer in this time of grace. You all have problems, afflictions, sufferings and lack of peace. May saints be models to you and an encouragement for holiness; God will be near you and you will be renewed in seeking through your personal conversion. Faith will be hope to you and joy will begin to reign in your hearts. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! I am calling you to be prayer in this time of grace. You all have problems, afflictions, sufferings and lack of peace. May saints be models to you and an encouragement for holiness.

The Virgin Mary is not merely calling us to pray, but to become prayer itself. Why is this so important? It is because prayer is an urgent necessity for us. Mary acknowledges that we all have problems, suffering, and pain, and that we lack peace. In the midst of these challenges, what do we need the most? Prayer. Only through prayer can we find the strength and answers to our problems, suffering, and pain, and only through prayer can we receive true peace.
      The saints lived earthly lives just like us, filled with struggles. They too faced problems, suffering, and moments of peacelessness. But in those times, they sought refuge in the Eucharist, knelt before the cross, and held the rosary, calling upon Jesus and earnestly asking for Mary's intercession. Their deep, faith-filled prayers were always answered. Jesus, who became human like us and experienced all things except sin, understands our struggles, as does Mary, who also lived a human life on earth.
      When Mary mentions our problems, suffering, and pain, she does so as a loving mother who shares in our trials, not as a detached observer. A mother experiences her child's suffering as her own, and Mary is no different. She deeply feels our lack of peace and offers us two remedies: prayer and following the example of the saints.

God will be near you and you will be renewed in seeking through your personal conversion. Faith will be hope to you and joy will begin to reign in your hearts. Thank you for having responded to my call.

The saints were people who believed deeply in God’s constant presence in their lives and experienced it daily. They strove to live holy lives, imitating God and seeking unity with Him. They continually sought renewal through daily repentance and efforts to transform their lives.
      Though we may carry problems, suffering, and pain, we can hold onto hope because we believe that God is near us and will not abandon us. This belief—that God is with us and helps us with His love—fills us with hope. Even in the face of overwhelming challenges, the hope of God's help allows us to remain joyful. St. Paul reminds us of this when he says, “What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? As it is written: “For your sake we are being slain all the day; we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us.” (Rom 8:35-37). He also encourages us: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!" (Phil 4:4).
   
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