“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.”(Isaiah 65:17)
The name of the "Entering Canaan" ministry came to me in prayer one day before the Blessed Sacrament. You can read about it here. At first, I was baffled by it, but after reading about the Israelites journey into the Promise Land it made perfect sense. It was a tough journey for them as the one to healing is for those who have experienced abortion, but God promises he will never abandonus as He leads us into the Promised Land, we just need to trust.
Many readings throughout lent speak to this journey through the desert. Today Fr Barron has a lenten reflection on this; "God is much more interested in your future than in your past. Why worry excessively about what came before? Why obsess over your past sins? We have a God who “makes all things new,” and in that we find hope." He concludes his meditation by saying: "What I want you to know right here and right now is that there is a way out, a way forward, a path opening up in the desert. You might be miseria (in misery) but standing right in front of you is Misericordia (mercy). So, go."
Having had that in mind while writing the retreat, one of the things I wanted to do during our Medjugorje "Mercy" retreat was to make that a message to those who came, and so, we had an "Exchange with God".
Each person was given a wooden heart to write the name of their babies on. These hearts then accompanied them on the journey to the top of Cross Mountain. Anyone who has climbed this mountain knows it is not easy...the trip up and down took about 4 hours for our entire group. When we reached the top we had a service where we left out hearts at the foot of the Cross and then Father Conrad Osterhaut, CFR, gave a talk on the scripture of Isaiah 65:17.
Father Conrad then blessed small replicas of the cross to give to each person representing this exchange with God as a reminder that our children are in His care, we are healed by the sacrifice of the Cross followed by the resurrection.
It is hard to describe the many graces we all received during this trip. No words can ever do justice to
the amazing mercy of God and the gifts He bestowed upon us...sinners wh0 participated in the death of their children. But that is Mercy Himself, loving us, forgiving us, transforming us,making all things new!
