It is only by fidelity in little things that the grace of true love to God can be sustained, and distinguished from a passing fervor of spirit… No
one can well believe that our piety is sincere, when our behavior is lax and irregular in its little details. What probability is there that we should not hesitate to make the greatest sacrifices, when we shrink from the smallest? - Franois Fenelon (1651-1715)
(To do all things well . . . mindful of God . . . )
|
1 SM 1:24-28; 1 SM 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8ABCD
LK 1:46-56
Mary said:
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit
rejoices in God my savior.
for he has looked upon his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has
sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.”
Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months
and then returned to her home.
Reflection on the
Scriptures |
In the gospel, Luke shares the words of Mary. If Hannah was the model of devotion and faith in the Old Testament, then Mary is Hannah, a hundred times over. Mary, just a young woman, a child really, heeds the call of God. She rejoices in her faith and her God, singing His praises. She does not doubt about her situation – no concern about how she is going to explain this to her parents or to her betrothed, Joseph. Mary basks in the blessing of the
Lord, she shows gratitude for the great things He has done for her. Of course, we know now that Mary was chosen for this honor from her conception. We recently celebrated her Immaculate Conception – the only person ever to be born without sin. Mary had no way of knowing that this was her role in life. Yet, she never doubted the angel Gabriel. She never questioned, why me?
Even as she was to experience great sorrows in her life, she never wavered, doubted, or questioned her faith and devotion. Mary was truly the shining example of a Child of God – we are all children of God and try to live as such but Mary models that for us exquisitely. I try to imagine what it must have been like for Mary, especially as she and Joseph trekked to
Bethlehem. A pregnant, unwed teenager traveling across the Mideast on a donkey close to her delivery date. That is Faith with a capital “F.” I can only imagine how frightened she was when she went into labor. Yet given our reading today, I’m sure she approached with knowledge of God’s mercy and love. Mary knew that God keeps His promise and would hold her in the palm of His hand and do great things for her.
- by Nancy Shirley
Revelations of Divine
Love - by Julian of Norwich
Thirteenth Revelation, Chapter 32
“There be deeds evil done in our sight, and so
great harms taken, that it seemeth to us that it were impossible that ever it should come to good end.” “That Great Deed ordained . . . by which our Lord God shall make all things well”
Another understanding is this, that there be deeds evil done in our sight, and so great harms taken, that it seemeth to us that it were impossible that ever it should come to good end. And upon this we look,
sorrowing and mourning therefor, so that we cannot resign us unto the blissful beholding of God as we should do. And the cause of this is that the use of our reason is now so blind, so low, and so simple, that we cannot know that high marvellous Wisdom, the Might and the Goodness of the blissful Trinity. And thus signifieth He when He saith: THOU SHALT SEE THYSELF if all manner of things shall be well. As if He said: Take now heed faithfully and trustingly, and at the last end thou shalt
verily see it in fulness of joy. |
|
|
