Trust in Illness, Pain and Death

This is a computer-generated transcription that has been included to make the homily searchable.  It has not been verified by the author.

“When the perishable puts on the imperishable and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore my brothers be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain.” This is the continuation of what we were looking at last week, St Paul’s teaching on the resurrection of the body.  And so he gives us these words which is so, so powerful where he says, “Death, where is your victory?” Because death, which always seems victorious in human life, there’s always everyone’s life on this earth, we see it ending in death. And St Paul is saying this, of course, in a world in which there’s still lots and lots of death all over the place. And yet he is saying, “Death, where is your victory?” But he’s saying, he says, “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, when the mortal puts on immortality,” referring to the resurrection, “then shall come to pass.” So that’s when this will be fully manifest in the resurrection. And so then he says here, “therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast and moveable, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” So he says, in knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain. What does that mean? It means that it might seem to them like their labor is in vain. They might often feel like they’re not seeing many fruits of what they’re doing. And so he’s giving them a message in hope, in the struggles that they’re facing. Two days ago, February 28 was what? Besides the last day of February. What was February 28? I’m sure you all had this marked on your calendars. Well, it was the first anniversary of the publication of the first message, our first public message. I don’t know whether that was on Fox News or not, but that was, I think, our big event, because the Lord told us that that message was the beginning of the reconquest. And so to me, I think that’s a very important anniversary, the first message. Then it’s the first anniversary of the reconquest, which is still very small, like a little seed sprouting, but in faith to what He’s told us. And the reconquest is a message of hope in a world in which, as we know, there’s so much suffering and so many of the people who speak to us share their heavy burdens, the heavy crosses, sometimes crushing crosses that they’re carrying, so many people today. Mother Magdalene was making a reference to that at the beginning of Mass. So many people carrying these crushing burdens, as I say, crushing crosses today. And so the reconquest and the messages, it’s a lot of it, is a message of hope and consolation. And so I wanted to share with you a message. This message Sister received on October 5, 2022. So it’s a message, I don’t think we’ve published this. I don’t know if that any excerpts have been published, but in which the Lord is speaking about illness and pain and death. And He’ll say that God didn’t create, suffering and death. It was not God’s will that created that. It was sin that brought that into the world, but how God can use it for something greater in our lives. And so He says to not be afraid. This message Sister received in Spanish. So this is a translation that she made, and that’s one of the advantage of having these homilies recorded, because these messages are so rich and dense that a recording gives you a chance to go back and listen to them. “My children, little ones of my heart. I wish to speak to you about illness, pain and death, words that bring fright and anguish to My children. I will repeat to you the words of My mother to Juan Diego, ‘listen and keep in your heart, my youngest son, that there is nothing for you to fear, nothing to afflict you. Let neither your face nor your heart be worried. Do not fear this nor any other illness, nor anything pounding nor afflicting. Am I not here? I who am your mother. Are you not in my shadow, under my protection? Am I not the fountain of your joy? Are you not in the fold of my mantle, in my crossed arms? Is there anything else you need? Let nothing else grieve you, perturb you.’” And then he transitioned, “as well as the words of My Son, the great Paul, the tiredest apostle, who says, ‘Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or the sword? As it is written, for your sake, we are being killed all day long. We are counted as sheep to be slaughtered. No in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ, Jesus, our Lord.” That’s the quote from St Paul. Then the message continues, “children, what is at the heart of these words, do not be afraid neither of illness nor pain nor of death. The world has lost faith in eternal life in Me and the consequences of this is to make an idol out of health and earthly happiness. Many say having health, you have everything. No children no. Of what use is a perfect, healthy body, but with a dimmed, rotten soul. If my children put the effort in strengthening, beautifying and giving healthy nourishment to their souls, as they do with their bodies, that will soon become ashes, how different this world would be. My poor, distracted children, the tremendous lack of faith has so many consequences. Life is my gift. Only I can give it and only I decide when to take it, only I. When you entrust yourselves to Me, you entrust your health as well. That is to say, it comes under My dominion, through the act of your will and your trust. I make use of your health, then according to My plans and all for the fulfillment of My will, which is none other than the good of My children. My will is love. Children, never forget it. The state of your bodies is so fleeting. Children, yes, I ask you to cooperate with me in the care of your person, your cleanliness, your nourishment, your health, but everything in its proper order. In this fallen world, in this fallen nature and humanity, it is impossible to attain perfect health, perfect beauty, perfect strength. For through sin, disorder has entered into everything, and everything has been left lame and perfect. Do not waste time trying to attain the unattainable. Look at Me. Trust in Me. Remember that your body is temporary. It is only a wrapping and a means to fulfill My will and your mission. I can heal and bring back to life in an instant, if it was necessary in My plan. But if I removed all imperfection, pain, illness in an instant, I would also be depriving you of the opportunity to cooperate with Me in your own expiation and salvation and that of your brothers. Remember and always have this in mind, that illness, pain and death are a consequence of sin, of disobedience and of avarice, that of satan and also that of Adam and Eve. I never wished this for My children, but I have allowed it so that through these consequences, through your acceptance and your offering out of love and obedience to Me, I can restore the order that has been lost. What satan uses to cause fear, terror, hatred and despair, I use to form and strengthen you in faith and abandonment and trust. I make you My cooperators, My co redeemers. I taught you with My passion and cross, with My life and with My death, how to live and how to die, how to carry the cross of suffering and how to offer everything to the Father. And My resurrection shows you the truth of what awaits you when you have said your final “Father into your hands, I commend my spirit. Children do not let yourselves be swept away by the lies and distractions of the world that are so subtle and pernicious. Be alert. Do not fear. In the critical hours, only the essential is necessary, My will, My love, My light, My words. Help My children to remember what the purpose of your life is, what it is that I want for My children, that to bear with patience and acceptance the pain of this life and of this world is grace, expiation and salvation. My children do not cease to look at Me. Only in this way will you be able to fulfill your mission. I love you. I bless each of you. Thank you for your love. My children. Do not fear anything. I love you. Your Jesus. Your everything. Amen. 

KEYWORDS / PHRASES:
1 Corinthians 15:54-58