Reflection on the Message of September

During this year so far Our Lady has emphasised in her monthly messages the power of prayer, prayer with fasting, prayer of the heart. The present message was given by Our Lady, the Queen of Peace, in the midst of worldwide tension and anxiety as to how to respond to the most evil terrorist attack claiming over six thousand innocent lives in New York and Washington. The world is facing the threat of a new kind of war, based on hatred, the war of terrorism, especially suicidal terrorism which knows no limits. There are many voices in the world crying for revenge and war and at the time of writing this reflection we can see on our television screens how the war-machine is on the move to make that strike against the Taliban regime of Afghanistan. It may lead to more wars, to more terrorism and hatred and that is precisely what Satan wants in the present situation as Our Lady said in her message.

Is there any other option to overcome the power of evil caused by terrorism? It seems that the Gospel gives us a better option through the mandate of Jesus: Do good to those who hate you (Luke 6:27). What could this mean in the present situation? Suppose, the U.S.A. were to offer the Taliban regime immediate aid to save the starving five and half million people of Afghanistan in exchange for handing over the terrorists to face justice in the courts and destroying the terrorist training camps, under United Nations supervision. Such an offer could put the fundamentalist regimes harbouring terrorists on the spot and it may lead to a peaceful solution of the terrible problem of terrorism facing the world today. How can we be sure that this option would work? This is where the use of another weapon would be effective: prayer and fasting, and that is why Our Lady is turning to all of us to take up this powerful spiritual weapon to overcome the evil of wars and hatred. In an early message Our Lady has clearly stated the power of prayer with fasting:

The best fast is on bread and water. Through fasting and prayer one can stop wars, one can suspend the laws of nature. Works of charity cannot replace fasting. Those who are not able to fast can sometimes replace it with prayer, charity and confession (penance); but everyone, except the sick, must fast (21 July, 1982).

In the light of Our Lady's words the power of prayer with fasting can overcome every evil, even the driving out the Evil One, as Jesus said to his disciples; This kind of evil spirit can be driven out only by prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29).

There is no doubt, the evil of terrorism is the work of Satan, and Our Lady shows us the way to overcome it. By offering our prayer with fasting for the leaders of nations to make the right decision in the present critical situation, and for overcoming the evil of terrorism, we become peace-makers, carriers of peace in this world without true peace, we become witnesses to the peace of Christ, the Prince of Peace.

It is important, therefore, that the devotees of Our Lady of Medjugorje take Our Lady's call very seriously and act accordingly without delay. We should not have any fear of evil, because the power of prayer with fasting is greater than the power of evil. Our Lady assures us that she is with us and intercedes before God for each one of us. So we are not alone in this great battle. Our prayer and fasting have heavenly support, assuring us of the victory of good over evil.

Monsignor George Tutto