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Fr. Stephen Shin’s Reflections on the Messages
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February 25, 2024
"Dear children! Pray and renew your heart so that the good which you have sown may bear the fruit of joy and oneness with God. Darnel has seized many hearts and they have become unfruitful; that is why, you little children, be light, love and my outstretched hands in this world which yearns for God Who is love. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! Pray and renew your heart so that the good which you have sown may bear the fruit of joy and oneness with God. 

God created us humans in His image, and one of the ways we resemble Him is by living according to goodness, as God is goodness itself. However, even though we were created good in the likeness of a good God, there are times when we choose evil over good due to our uncontrolled desires. Furthermore, Satan continually tempts and deceives us, trying to lead us into sin and evil, making it challenging to live a life of goodness. Nevertheless, we must make a conscious effort to live good lives and turn it into a habit. To achieve this, we need to continuously ask for God’s help and grace through prayer and regularly examine ourselves.
      Just as we stand in front of a mirror every day to check if there is anything on our face, if our hair is neat, or if our clothes are properly worn, we must also examine our lives and hearts daily through the spiritual mirror of prayer. We must reflect on our conscience every day, not just once at the end of the day but several times throughout the day, to foster the good and cut off the evil. We were created in the likeness of a good God, and we are always called by our Creator to nurture goodness in our hearts and practice it in our actions. Wherever we are—at home, at work, at school, in church, in our neighborhood, in society, or in the world—we must be people who sow goodness. For this, the continuous renewal of our hearts is essential.
      Jesus said, "For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, false witness, blasphemy. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile” (Mt 15:19-20). If such things reside in our hearts, we must cast them out and replace them with good thoughts, love, mercy, forgiveness, dedication, self-control, patience, and other virtues. This is the renewal of the heart. However, this renewal of the heart is impossible without God's grace, in addition to our efforts. Thus, we must earnestly ask the Lord to give us a new heart, as He promised, “I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh" (Ez 36:26).
      Our Lady desires for us to be people who sow goodness, and she hopes that the good we sow will bear the fruit of joy and unity with God. She urges us to pray and renew our hearts so that this may be accomplished. But what if, even after praying and renewing our hearts, the fruits of joy and unity with God are not borne? This may be because the good we thought we were sowing was not true goodness. Outwardly, it may appear to be good, but if the motivation behind it is self-satisfaction or self-interest, and we fail to discern this, then it will not produce the true fruits of joy or unity with God. Therefore, all the good we do must be pure, without any selfish motives, and based on love.
      “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). As this psalm states, God knows everything about us, even the hidden thoughts in our hearts. While we may deceive people with flattering words or disguised good deeds, we can never deceive God. Even if we can deceive people for a time, as Jesus said, "Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known" (Mt 10:26). All hidden things will ultimately be revealed.
      There is a saying, "If you plant beans, you will get beans; if you plant red beans, you will get red beans." It is impossible to plant beans and get red beans or vice versa. If the goodness we sow is true goodness and we add prayer and the renewal of our hearts, that goodness will certainly bear the fruit of joy and unity with God.

Darnel has seized many hearts and they have become unfruitful; that is why, you little children, be light, love and my outstretched hands in this world which yearns for God Who is love. Thank you for having responded to my call.

In Matthew 13:24-30, Jesus gives the parable of the weeds, and in the following verses (36-43), He explains its meaning. He tells us that the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them in the wheat field is the devil. Though the weeds will be burned at the end of the world, He allows them to grow alongside the wheat to protect the wheat. In other words, God tolerates the children of the evil one to protect the children of the kingdom. Jesus specifically identifies the children of the evil one as "those who cause others to sin and all who do evil."
      In this month’s message, for the first time, Our Lady uses the word "darnel," which she has never used before. She says, "Darnel has seized many hearts and they have become unfruitful;" As mentioned earlier, darnel represents the children of the evil one, Satan’s offspring, those who cause others to sin and commit injustice. These people disrupt and confuse many hearts, preventing good fruits from being borne within them. If we look around, we will see many people who resemble weeds. Some of them sin and live wicked lives while pretending otherwise, subtly or overtly leading others to sin and commit injustice. These people are not only present in the world but also within the Church, causing great harm. Recognizing the gravity of this situation, Our Lady tells us, “Darnel has seized many hearts and they have become unfruitful."
      Our Lady awakens us to the severity of the situation caused by the weeds and urges us to be light, love, and her outstretched hands. Even though it may seem as if the weeds are taking over, the world still longs for the God of love. She calls on us to help direct many hearts toward God. Instead of darkness, we must be light; instead of hatred, we must be love. Our Lady asks us to be her hands, touching and comforting the hearts of all people, guiding them as God’s good children.
   
 
 
January 25, 2024
"Dear children! May this time be a time of prayer."

Dear children! May this time be a time of prayer.

The message from Our Lady this month, which marks the start of 2024, is very brief. It is only one sentence. However, when I first encountered this message, I felt an overwhelming impression. I believe that, in this single sentence, Our Lady is telling us exactly what is most needed at this time.
      What is most necessary and important to us as we live through these current times? Is it a house, a job, health, a car, food, clothes, or something else? Of course, as we live in this world with our physical bodies, these are certainly essential and important. Yet, as we enter 2024, Our Lady tells us that what we need most is not those things, but prayer.
      Does it make sense to place prayer as the top priority in our lives and turn this time into a time of prayer, even when we are struggling without a job or facing financial hardships? From a worldly and human perspective, it might not make sense. But through the lens of faith, it is a perfectly fitting statement. Let us slowly read and reflect on the following words of the Lord:
     "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil” (Mt 6:25-34).
      Through this passage, Jesus tells us that when we seek God's kingdom and His righteousness first, everything else we need will also be given to us. Although many saints have lived by this teaching, let us reflect on the life of one saint who put this into practice long ago.
      January 17 was the feast day of Saint Anthony. He was born into a wealthy family in Komana, Egypt, in the mid-3rd century. After both his parents passed away, he was left with only his younger sister. At that time, he was about eighteen to twenty years old and took on the responsibility of caring for the household and his sister.
      Not long after his parents’ passing, he began to ponder on his way to church, "Why did the apostles abandon everything to follow the Savior? Why did the early Christians, as described in the Acts of the Apostles, sell their possessions and distribute the proceeds to the poor under the direction of the apostles? How great and glorious must be the reward they hoped to receive in the kingdom of heaven!" As these thoughts filled his mind, he entered the church and heard the Gospel reading in which Jesus tells the rich young man: “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to [the] poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me" (Mt 19:21).
      Immediately after leaving the church, Anthony gave away the entire 37 acres of land he had inherited from his parents to the villagers. He sold all his other possessions and kept only a small portion for his sister, distributing the remainder to the poor.
      On his next visit to the church, he heard the passage from Matthew 6:25-34, which we just reflected on. After hearing these words, he left the church and gave away the rest of his remaining possessions to the poor. He entrusted his sister to the care of trusted virgins and began a life of asceticism near his home, working with his hands, remembering Saint Paul's words: "If anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat" (2 Thes 3:10). He spent a portion of his earnings on food and gave the rest to the poor.
      He also took Jesus' words to heart: "When you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you" (Mt 6:6). "Pray always without becoming weary" (Lk 18:1). He prayed for long hours and studied the scriptures so diligently that he almost memorized them.
      Until his death in 356, he lived as a hermit, followed by many, and is known as "the Father of Monasticism" for his significant influence on monastic life in the Western Church.
     Anthony gave everything he had to the poor and lived a life of labor, asceticism, and prayer in obedience to the words of Jesus, particularly focusing on Matthew 6:25-34. Our Lady, Queen of Peace of Medjugorje, has encouraged families to read and meditate on this passage together every Thursday through one of the visionaries.
      How can we seek God's kingdom and His righteousness? Our Lady tells us that the answer is "prayer." Prayer is the key that opens the doors to the kingdom of heaven. Through prayer, we can enter God's kingdom, and God's kingdom can enter us. Prayer helps us understand God's will, know what He deems righteous, and gain the strength to put it into practice.
      Does prayer bring food? Yes, it does. Does prayer provide clothes? Yes, it does. Does prayer give us water? Yes, it does. Why is that? Because through prayer, we come into possession of God, who can provide all these things. Not in a mechanical or controlling sense, but in the sense that we can fully entrust ourselves to His good providence.
      Now is the time for prayer!
   
 
 
December 25, 2023
"Dear children! I am carrying my Son Jesus to you to fill your hearts with peace, because He is peace. Little children, seek Jesus in the silence of your heart that He be born anew. The world needs Jesus, therefore seek Him through prayer, because He gives Himself daily to each of you." Today Our Lady came solemnly dressed with little Jesus in her arms. Jesus extended His hand in a sign of blessing as Our Lady prayed over us in Aramaic.

Dear children! I am carrying my Son Jesus to you to fill your hearts with peace, because He is peace.

In Catholic Mass, outside the seasons of Advent and Lent, we recite or sing the Gloria, praising God and asking for peace. It begins, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of goodwill!” Whenever I sing these words, I am reminded of that first Christmas when the angels sang this hymn over the shepherds in Bethlehem: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests" (Lk 2:14). This angelic hymn reveals why Jesus came—to give glory to God and bring peace to humanity.
      But notice the second part of the hymn: "peace to people of goodwill." While Jesus came to bring peace to everyone, this hymn clarifies that this peace is for those "of goodwill." How can we be people of goodwill, pleasing to God? The answer is repentance. Acknowledging our sins, seeking forgiveness, and living according to God’s commandments is the path to repentance.
      Though Jesus came to bring peace, He made it clear that repentance is the first step. As He began His ministry, Jesus said, " This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel" (Mk 1:15). His entire public life was a call to repentance. When some towns in Galilee refused to repent despite witnessing His miracles, He sternly rebuked them: "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented in sackcloth and ashes" (Mt 11:21).
      Now, through the apparitions of Our Lady, Jesus continues to call humanity to repentance. Since June 24, 1981, in Medjugorje, Our Lady has been appearing daily, urging humanity to repent. She emphasizes that without repentance, there is no peace, no future. We must take her words seriously and respond to her call: “Dear children! Today I invite you to conversion. This is the most important message that I have given you here…” (February 25, 1996).

Little children, seek Jesus in the silence of your heart that He be born anew. The world needs Jesus, therefore seek Him through prayer, because He gives Himself daily to each of you.

From the moment we wake until we fall asleep, we are surrounded by noise. Our minds, too, are constantly racing with thoughts and worries. In this message, Our Lady calls us to seek Jesus in silence. Inner silence begins with external silence—finding a quiet place and time free from distractions.
      The best place to find this silence and seek Jesus is in a church, especially before the Blessed Sacrament. Even if the Eucharist is not exposed, sitting before the tabernacle, gazing upon Jesus in love and reverence, helps quiet our hearts. It’s essential to develop the habit of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, fostering inner silence.
      More important than silent adoration, however, is participation in Mass. The Mass is the highest form of prayer, where Jesus becomes present in the Eucharist, offering Himself to us. Every day, through the Mass, the miracle of Jesus' birth happens again as He comes to dwell among us. How can we not attend this incredible event daily if possible?
      Jesus Himself tells us: "Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you…. I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst” (Jn 6:27, 35).
      Every time we offer the Lord's Prayer, we ask, "Give us this day our daily bread." Jesus hears our petition at every daily Mass. He becomes our daily bread in the form of the Eucharist each day. Let us make participating in daily Mass, to receive the Eucharistic Jesus, our daily bread who leads us to eternal life, the most important and prioritized task of our day. 

Today, Our Lady, dressed in splendor, came carrying the infant Jesus in her arms. As she prayed in Aramaic, Jesus extended His arms in a gesture of blessing.

It’s unusual to see a description of the apparition included with the monthly message, but this unique detail helps us grasp the significance of this Christmas message.
      Visionary Vicka has described Our Lady as having beautiful blue eyes, slightly curly black hair, and wearing a gray dress with a white veil. On special occasions, she is adorned in golden garments and jewelry, as she was in this apparition, where she carried the baby Jesus in her arms.
      What’s particularly extraordinary is that Mary prayed in Aramaic, her native language and that of Jesus. Why would she pray in Aramaic now, after 2,000 years? Perhaps it is to remind us of the first Christmas in Bethlehem, inviting us back to that holy night. Moreover, it could be to show us that Medjugorje, like Bethlehem, is a place where Jesus is born again in the hearts of those who seek Him.
      Interestingly, this month’s message does not end with the usual, "Thank you for having responded to my call." Instead, this phrase appears in the annual message to visionary Jakov Colo, given the same day. Reading both messages together offers a fuller picture of what Our Lady wishes to convey this Christmas:

“Dear children, today with my Son in my arms, I desire to call all of you to pray to the little Jesus for the healing of your heart. Children, often in your hearts sin rules which destroys your life and you cannot feel God's presence. That is why, on this day of grace, when grace is spreading throughout the whole world, surrender your life and your heart to the Lord, so that the Lord may heal them with His grace. Only with pure hearts will you be able to experience the birth of Jesus anew in you, and the light of His birth will illuminate your life. I bless you with my motherly blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call" (December 25, 2023, to Jakov Colo).
   
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