Lay Minister Joseph L’Heureux
This year, 2017, marks the 100th anniversary of Mary’s appearances at Fatima, Portugal. Let’s take a look at how God through our Lord Jesus Christ, His mother Mary and His angels, are always looking out for our interest.

An angel appeared 100 years ago to three young children in Fatima, to teach them the rosary. Why? To warn them of the Portuguese government’s evil intent.

The Feast of Epiphany or Kings day, is about Three Wise Men guided by a star, who come from the east to pay homage to the newborn infant, Jesus.
This same feast day is marked by an angel appearing to these wise men, to warn them of a terrible ruler who wishes to destroy the infant Jesus, the King of Israel. [Matthew 2: 1-11, 2:12]

Epiphany actually means “the manifestation of God”, to the world or even just to an individual. An angel had also appeared to Mary to tell her she would conceive a son, Jesus, in what would appear to be an illegitimate conception. So an angel also has to appear to Joseph, her potential husband, not to fear this embarrassment. “It is a child of God.” He should continue with marriage plans and protect her. [Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 1:18-25]

A host of angels also appeared to shepherds. “Suddenly there was with the angel a great company of heavenly host, praising and singing: “Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth to those he favours.” [Luke 2:8-14]

The angel also appears later to Joseph to warn him of the above danger, from the governor [above]. Later, the same angel appears to Joseph to tell him, he may now return to Israel. [Matthew 2:13- 15, 19-21]

In 1981, 2,000 years later, an angel also appears to Marija, in Medjugorje, Croatia, to start saying her rosary, which leads to the beginning of Mother Mary’s daily appearances to six children. These appearances have continued daily to this day, 36 years later.

Mary has also advised Marija we should mark our calendars for something special happening this March 18, 2017.

Mary has also appeared in various places around the globe: Guadeloupe, Mexico, Egypt, Rwanda, Lourdes, usually no more than 10 times, but always to pray because of a pending disaster.

In Medjugorje she has appeared daily for 36 years, to two, once a month, to another once a year and the other three daily. However, as the visionaries are invited to other countries to speak, Mary also appears to them wherever they are. Never has this happened before. It does look like a message for the whole world.

Scripture tells us: “In times past, God spoke in fragmented and varied ways to our fathers though the prophets; in the final age He has spoken to us though His Son, Jesus [and now Mary], whom he made heir of all things and through whom He first created the universe. This Son is the reflection of the Father’s glory, the exact representation of the Father’s being, and he sustains all things by His powerful word,” Jesus.

When He cleansed us from our sins by paying the price for our sins with His own death on the cross, “then He took His seat at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven as superior to the angels as the name Jesus Christ, He has inherited is superior to theirs.” [Hebrews 1:1-4]

The three kings, whose feast we celebrate yearly, were considered wise because they sought to pay homage to the King of Israel, who turned out to be, King of the Universe and the Saviour of the world.

Are we responding in worship, that we might be considered wise?

Mary continues to encourage us to seek that Epiphany with her Son Jesus, that we, too, might experience this same encounter that makes us Sons of God, if we continue on that journey.

Jerusalem was destroyed 70 years after Jesus’s presence on earth for not accepting Him as Messiah. This year, 2017, is 70 years after the restoration of Israel as a country.

Since all through scriptures there is a rhythm of numerology, marking these Godly encounters through history, does Israel’s 70th anniversary of restoration in 1947, have significance for our time?

We are celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday and the 100th birthday of the National Hockey League. Will God have a special visitation for some of us Canadians this year?

May you be blessed this year with that special Epiphany. God Bless.