THE NOW WORD ON MASS READINGS
for Wednesday, December 21st, 2016
Liturgical texts here
IN the Spring of 2014, I went through a terrible darkness. I felt tremendous doubts, surges of fear, despair, terror, and abandonment. I began one day with prayer as usual, and then… she came.
Our Lady’s presence was so beautiful, so powerful, so gentle, so in control, so reassuring, so consoling…. The effects of that afternoon still linger on. I fell in love with our Mother even more that day because I felt how in love she is with Jesus.
Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said… how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? (Today’s Gospel)
As I lingered in the moment, I felt a strange urge to play a song I had just downloaded from the band Rascal Flatts. It is the soundtrack from the movie Heaven is for Real (below). As I listened to the words, I could hear Our Mother speaking these words to my heart! I was moved to tears.
For see, the winter is past, the rains are over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth… (Today’s first reading)
Since then, I cannot listen to that song without getting chills… without hearing Mama.
Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled. (Today’s Gospel)
As Christmas draws near, I have sensed the Lord tell me again that every day counts, every writing counts… time is short. I don’t fully understand what that means, but the urgency of it is unmistakable. I believe we are now entering a most painful part of the Storm for the Church and the world. Would I write such a thing to scare you? Of course not… only to prepare you, to awaken you, to urge you on, to tell you to grab Mother’s hand and get up again, to not be afraid, to be a light and comfort to others, and to trust in Jesus with all your heart—despite the trials that will assail the world—trials which He permits through His sovereign will.
But the plan of the LORD stands forever; the design of his heart, through all generations… Our soul waits for the LORD, who is our help and our shield, For in him our hearts rejoice; in his holy name we trust. (Today’s Psalm)
Our Lady says to you and me this in this night: I’ll be the one to guide you. My love will be your compass—I will lead you home…
Listen below…
COMPASS
by Diane Warren
When the night is falling
So hard upon you
And the world is hanging
Heavy on your heart
When your soul is stranded
And you’re barely standing
I will hold you, shield you, show you
I am standing by…
And when you’re lost
And think no one can find you
I will remind you
You’re not alone
I will be there
I’ll be the one to guide you
My love will be your compass
I will lead you home
When night has painted
Your world in shadows
And you’re left feeling
Left out in the cold
When you’re in the darkness
And this world feels heartless
I will see you, hear you, reach you
I am standing by…
And when you’re lost
And think no one can find you
I will remind you
you’re not alone
I will be there
I’ll be the one to guide you
My love will be your compass
I will lead you home
When you’re in the Storm
And you’re in the darkness lost at sea
Grab my hand
Reach for me
I am standing by…
And when you’re lost
And think no one can find you
I will remind you
You’re not alone
I will be there
I’ll be the one to guide you
My love will be your compass
I will lead you home
I will lead you home…
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