Our Lady’s Message – January FR. JAMES WILLIAMS 25, 2026 | Reflection by Fr. James

FR. JAMES WILLIAMS

At the beginning of a new year, we are invited to pause and reflect on our spiritual path.This January message calls us to renew our commitment to prayer and to live our faith visibly through love, patience, and mercy. We are reminded that prayer is not only a personal act, but a source of blessing for others, especially for those who have not yet come to know God’s love. May these words guide us to begin the year with open hearts, choosing love over division and allowing God’s grace to work through our daily lives.

January 25, 2026 – Message from Our Lady of Medjugorje

Dear children, Today, I am calling you to be prayer and a blessing for all those who have not come to know God's love. Little children, be different from others and be positive people of prayer and love towards God, that with your lives, you may be a sign of God's love to others. I bless you with my motherly blessing and intercede for each of you before my Son Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my call.

(With ecclesiastical approval)

Reflection by Fr. Jim Williams

Jesus tells us in the Gospel that the love of our neighbor is so intimately connected with the love of God that they are inseparable commandments. Our call from Our Lady this month has to do with setting an example and keeping the two great commandments. (1 John 4:21)

And again: Saint John tells us, “If anyone says that they love God and hates his brother, he is a liar. For the one that doesn’t love his brother whom he sees, how can he love God who he doesn’t see?” (1 John 4:20) We can’t make a true act of love of God while we bear hatred to anyone in the world.

When we talk about loving our ‘brother’ we mean every individual of the human family, strangers, relatives, and friends. This month we can think of these “brothers” and it will be applied to “those who have not yet come to know the love of God”. We are all part of one big family under the same Father in Heaven. God does not look at us based on race or social status; he loves everyone who calls to Him. (Romans 10:12)

According to Acts 10:34, God accepts people from every nation who respect Him and act justly. Because God is love, those who strive for goodness reflect His mercy. We should love others as they are made in God's image and redeemed by Christ. Saints exemplify this love for God and neighbor through the Holy Spirit.

Jesus teaches, “Love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34), emphasizing a charitable way of living. This principle guides all commandments, calling us to love as God does—not just those who love us (Matthew 5:46), but everyone, without holding grudges or acting spitefully.

Loving our neighbor can become especially challenging when we are faced with negative behaviors from others, such as rash judgments, detraction, and calumny. At times, people may suspect us without any valid reason, or they might reveal one of our hidden faults. False reports about us can also be spread, causing pain and misunderstanding. In these difficult moments, it is natural to question whether we are still called to practice love and charity.

Despite these hardships, we are reminded that such situations do not give us a reason to abandon love and charity. The call to love our neighbor remains, even when we are wronged or misunderstood. It is precisely in these moments that our commitment to charity and Christian love is tested, inviting us to respond with patience, forgiveness, and continued goodwill.

We must not allow ourselves to be guided by our aversions, whether personal or social, radical, or national, which when consented to leads to faults against charity. Even in the face of evil we want to strive to avoid bitter words, ridicule, contempt, witticism and sarcasm. These only cause cutting wounds that damage God’s peace.

Jesus teaches that reconciliation is essential; before offering gifts at the altar, resolve conflicts with others (Matthew 5:23). We may struggle with negative feelings toward those close to us, but prayer is vital in these situations. Our Lady encourages praying for both those who have and have not experienced God's love. Prayer, especially the rosary, has helped many overcome difficult relationships, as described in numerous Medjugorje testimonies.

In our time, countless men and women demonstrate remarkable generosity and nobility by making significant sacrifices for those around them. While they may not physically shed their blood, their daily acts of self-giving and service represent a profound dedication to the well-being of others.

Saint Paul expresses this spirit of self-sacrifice in his letter to the Corinthians, saying, “I will most gladly spend and be spent myself for your souls, although loving you more, I be loved less.” (II Cor. 12:15) His words remind us that genuine love often requires us to give of ourselves wholeheartedly, even when our efforts are not fully recognized or reciprocated. The willingness to spend oneself for the good of others is a powerful testament to true Christian charity and devotion.

— Fr. James Williams

May this reflection encourage us to live what we pray, to love without condition, and to become a quiet but powerful witness of God’s love in our everyday lives.

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