GO HOME TO YOUR PEOPLE
As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed begged to be allowed to stay with him. Jesus would not let him but said to him, “Go home to your people and tell them all that the Lord in his mercy has done for you.” So the man went off and proceeded to spread throughout the Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him. And everyone was amazed. Mark 5 : 1-20
Countless are the unclean spirits that have been banished from the lives of pilgrims visiting Medjugorje these past 42 years. Countless are the resurrections to new life. Countless are the pilgrims who have come to their full senses through the mercy and grace of God present at Medjugorje.
And because of the joy and happiness experienced at Medjugorje it is sometimes very difficult to leave the place – described by some as heaven on earth. But leave, we must.
The man brought out of the darkness at Gerasene also wanted to remain in the presence of peace – by the side of Jesus, but his Saviour had other plans for him. No longer would he be seen as living among the tombs and the dead. He was to return home and amaze everyone with his healing and resurrection to new life.
And that is the same plan Jesus has for everyone visiting Medjugorje, to become a witness to his Divine Mercy and healing in lives.
The late Fr Slavko Barbaric who pastored at Medjugorje used to say that our real pilgrimage begins when we return home, that we are called to witness the peace and experience we have received at Medjugorje with those we share our lives with, our own people, our families.
And how many families have been amazed at the transformation of a loved one after returning home from Medjugorje? It happens all the time. And so the merciful love of God continues to flow into the world in this wonderful way through the special grace brought to Medjugorje by Our Lady and the Holy Spirit. It is like a perpetual Pentecost. Suddenly, the pilgrims are able to find their voice to witness and tell their people all that the Lord in his mercy has done for them. They cannot refrain from speaking of all that they have seen and heard.
But it is important to remember that Jesus is not bound or limited to one place. He desires to live in all hearts. The Jesus we discover at Medjugorje is the Jesus we take back home in our heart to present and share with others.
