Hi all, following is a little something that happened to me a few years ago. At the time I was unemployed and was hoping to go to Medjugorje but I didn't have enough money for the plane ticket. I was £110 short. With just two days to go to the flight, I was driving home from Galway and called into Knock Shrine Parish Church at around 12 midnight. (there was a mini vigil on hence the late opening of the Church). As I knelt there asking Our Lady to twist the arm of Jesus and provide me with the rest of the fare, the words "faith means to act without proof" came into my mind. I had no idea what this meant but the words kept going around in my head. When I was leaving the old church I noticed a box for the third world inside the back door. I had £30 in my pocket, I put £20 into the box and continued on my journey home. When I arrived home in the early hours and was in my bedroom I noticed an envelope on my pillow. Upon opening it I found £110. There were 3 other people living in the house at the time but none of them knew I was in need of money or that I was even hoping to go to Medjugorje. I was delighted. The following day remembered I was still £20 short because of giving to the third world box in Knock. Later on that same day, one of the people with whom I shared the house came to me, held up two lottery scratch cards and said "pick one". I picked one, scratched it and won £20! And so I ended up in Medjugorje a couple of days later for what was a blessed week indeed. I have often thought about this event and wondered how it came about. Even the amount I needed was odd and if I was giving somebody money I think I'd give either £100 or £120 but not an odd number like £110. This helped me to grow in faith and I pray it will have a similar effect on you too and thank you for reading.
Thank you, Border Collie. Back in 1987, my family was also blessed with a financial gfift that allowed us to journey on pilgrimage to Medjugorje. Mary enjoys pulling strings to enable us to visit where she is visiting! Praise God! Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
I first shared this story here back in 2007: It is so fascinating: I am drawn like a magnet to this discussion. Medjugorje feels so close as if I could reach out and touch it. Our pilgrimage was taking place 20 years ago to this day. I have a marvelous testimony to share concerning our discernment to journey to Yugoslavia. In the spring of '87, I began to have a strong pull to take the family to Medjugorje. I had been a lover of Fatima for years (blame my Mom), but the thought of traversing to a site where Mary was presently visiting was captivating. I was hesitant at first because of the cost (then $3000), but one day while meditating on John 12, the Holy Spirit impressed upon my soul to be as generous toward Mary, as Lazarus' sister was toward Jesus when she anointed him with pure nard! I accepted the challenge and then patted myself on the back for my generosity. My precious wife, Geralyn, was all for it and so we made plans for the four of us (Ben was 3, Rachel was 1) to go. In early September, Geralyn returned home and informed me that God had told her that we would not have to pay for the trip. Still proud of my generous $3000 tucked away in our savings account, I assured her that we could handle it. A month later our only car died; lo and behold, my $3000 was suddenly needed for a new car and our pilgrimage was hanging in the balance. With no way of knowing about our predicament, a friend called the next morning to ask permission to give us $3000. While in prayer, God had told him to give us the money for our trip! My pride was smashed upon the table of humble pie! My friends, how could I be proud of my generosity?! God is never outdone! Luke 17:10 ...when you have done everything that was commanded you, say, "We are unprofitable servants..."
Mario, thanks for re-posting that story. Not only am I taken with the generosity of God but your and Gerylyn's devotion and trust in hearing from Him. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. —Romans 10:8-11, 17
