On March 18 of this year, my friend Austin told me about a trip his dad was organizing to Medjugorje ...six weeks later. On March 19, I decided to go.
It might seem like a hasty decision, but it was definitely not one I made lightly. Not only does this trip put a dent in my wallet, but it also uses up all of my vacation days for the remainder of the year - and we're only in month 4 haha.
The truth is, I have wanted to go to Medjugorje for six years or so, and up until now I couldn't afford it and didn't know how to get there. So on March 18, when I realized that I could afford it (both in terms of my bank account and my vacation days), I decided to go.
So here I am, sitting in the airport in Charlotte, North Carolina, enjoying a glass of red wine and waiting for my international flight. This will be my 3rd flight today and it won't even be my last. Quite the journey, but I have a feeling that it will be worth it.
So why am I going to Medjugorje, you ask? For the past couple weeks or so, I've been giving my friends and coworkers a heads up that at the start of May, I will be in Bosnia. Responses I have received have varied, but most include an incredulous, startled response that goes something along the lines of "...Why?!?!?"
Well, in case I haven't told you yet, there's this little town in Bosnia (Medjugorje) where there have reportedly been visions of the Virgin Mary. Every day. For the past 30 years or so.
Seriously.
Now the responses that I receive from THAT statement vary even more. I'd say about 10% of the people I tell have heard of Medjugorje, about 20% are really interested and ask questions, and about 70% of people think that I'm totally off my rocker. Which I am, but that's besides the point ;)
What interests me the most is that there are so many faith-filled, God-loving people who believe every single word of the Gospel (including the stories of Jesus performing miracles) but scoff at the idea of real miracles happening today and doubt the story of the visionaries who have had daily conversations with the Mother of Jesus.
As one friend asked me: "So, you actually believe that this is happening?"
Well, yeah. How can I not?
As you probably know, I'm a pretty emotional, faith-filled, passionate person; but let's take a second and look at this from a purely logical standpoint:
Do I believe that Jesus was the Son of God, born to the Virgin Mary, who was free of sin? Yes.
Do I believe that Jesus performed a variety of miracles, one of which being His resurrection and ascension into Heaven? Yes.
Do I believe that Mary was taken up into Heaven, body and soul? Yes.
Do I believe that Mary was crowned the Queen of Peace, over all of Heaven and Earth? Yes.
Do I believe that Mary could appear to six children in Medjugorje in the 80's, if she so wished? Yes!
Do I believe that Mary's continued appearance in this town could result in real miracles happening there? Yes!
Do those last two beliefs really differ so greatly from the first few? Why is it so much easier to believe in the Gospel than to believe in Medjugorje? There are and have been priests and bishops and other members of the church who have also doubted Medjugorje's validity - some vehemently so. Why do we find it so hard to believe?
Are miracles and Jesus easier to believe in because it happened 2000 years ago? Because it wasn't a "civilized" time and we didn't have HD TV and airplanes and smart phones?
What does that mean about our belief? Is it truly so small, so confined to "some other place, some other time" ???
"Oh yeah, Jesus was alive and performed miracles alright...2000 years ago."
"Oh yeah, Jesus will come back and bring Heaven to earth and salvation to all who will accept it, but there's no way it will happen in MY lifetime. Sometime in the distant future probably."
Arggghhhhhhhhh! That makes me want to throw something, but all I have handy is this glass of red wine and it's really delicious, so I won't do that...
Alright, I'm going to get off my soapbox now. I just wanted to point out the contradiction inherent in a believer's skepticism of miracles in today's day and age. It's okay to doubt, it's okay to question, but it's good to have an open mind and an open heart, and it's better to remember that God is capable of amazing things - so let's not confine him to some day and age that's not just ours, yeah?
Anyway. I haven't blogged since Rome, and I haven't really written a whole lot since then in general (notice the ramblings and the tangents in this post...), but I'd like to write about the week I'm about to have.
And if you're interested in reading about it...all I ask is that you keep an open mind and an open heart.
Okay, I think I should head to my gate now. I hope the Zzzquil works...!
Love from the sky (flying will always and forever amaze me)!
Maria
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