“May the celebration of the Nativity of our Blessed Mother, help us to deepen our love towards Her, and may we, holding Her Hands, walk in the path of God, more faithfully and strongly committed!
(Based on the Feast of the Nativity of our Blessed Mother)
A teacher in her classroom of Second Standard students, once explained and gave a lesson on the ‘magnet’ and its functions and uses.
The next day, the teacher conducted a written test.
One of the questions in this test was:
“My full name has six letters.
My name begins with ‘M’
One of my functions is to pick up things.
Another function is to attract things towards me.
Who am I?”
When the test papers were turned in, the teacher was astonished to see the answer that was given to this question by over half the class.
Any guesses as to what answer did the children write?
Hmmm….
They wrote the word – “Mother!”
The little children, with their own personal experience had seen and witnessed a Mother being the person..
… who would pick up things ( and especially the children!)
… who would attract to herself (especially the children themselves!)
The name “mother” evokes a lot of feelings and emotions…
Love, affection, tenderness, self-giving, warmth, kind-heartedness etc…
The name “mother” also evokes a lot of characters and functions…
A life-giver, a care-giver, a consoler, a strength, a forgiver, a refuge…
The name “mother” also evokes a long list of works and tasks that she undertakes… (from a modern perspective!)
(Hold your breath as we go through this lo…ong list!)
CEO of the Household, Chef, Cheerleader of a family, Housekeeper, Hair Stylist, Bed-wetting Patrol Squad, Keeper of Secrets, Food Tester, Family Therapist, Toddler Wrestling Coach, Laundry Machine, Teacher, Toy Repair Expert, Finance Manager, Art Director, Potty Trainer, Search and Rescue Manager, Champion Tickler, Day-care Provider, Personal Assistant for the entire family, Wardrobe Stylist, Toothbrush Inspector, Birthday Events Director, Sleep Scientist, Dramatic Story Teller, Professional Singer, Kiss and Hugs Expert, Speech Specialist, Vacation Coordinator & Tour Guide, Mrs. Fix-It, Stain Removal Expert, Bodyguard, Pet Caretaker, Marketing Director….etc etc…..
Yes, the list is indeed long…
… very very long…and we can certainly think of many more perhaps!
A simple word – Mother – yet evokes so many powerful functions and feelings.
Today we celebrate the Birthday of the Most Beloved, the Most Loving and the Most Lovable Mother of all – Blessed Mother Mary!
Our world, in the modern trend, fluctuates between two contrasting approaches towards our Blessed Mother.
- Minimal devotion to Mother Mary
On one side, there is a highly sad and deplorable ignoring of the honour and the status that is due to our Blessed Mother.
Many consider Her only as an “egg-shell”, whose role and relevance completely ceased, after having given birth to Jesus
Many consider Her as just any ordinary woman, who “happened” to be picked by God, so that He could “use” Her to fulfil His plan.
Many consider Her to be worthy of absolutely no extra honour and mock at Her only as causing a distraction, away from God
- Exaggerated devotion to Mother Mary
On the other side, there is a “comfortable” and dangerous trend towards exalting Mother Mary to such an extent that She is sometimes accorded the worship of a goddess or a deity!
Many consider devotion to Her being much more important, much more satisfying and much more easier than to God Himself!
Many consider expressing their actions of piety and affection to such an extent that even God is sometimes neglected (especially God in the Blessed Sacrament or in the Holy Word)!
But both these extreme understandings and approaches towards Blessed Mother Mary need to have a refinement, a filtering and a restoration towards the right perspectives!
Towards this end, the name “Mary” could be expanded, in the following manner, to help in having a truer appreciation, a genuine devotion and a deeper love for Her: MARY – a Model, an Apostle, a Revolutionary, a Yeast
- Mary – is the Model for every Christian
Her life becomes a wonderful example to every person who wishes to follow our Blessed Lord.
She remains the perfect Model of being attentive to the voice of God, being actively response to His call and being faithfully committed to every task entrusted to Her
- Mary is the Apostle-par-excellance
As an Apostle of Her Son and Saviour, She always remained in His presence – either physically or in Her thoughts or through Her constant longing for Him
She is the Beloved Apostle who had offered Her whole body, mind and soul to the glory of God and fulfilling His every plan
- Mary is the Revolutionary who dared to do God’s Will
Her Yes to the Plan of God, at the Annunciation and Her continual Yes to His Will, even in the moments of the most extreme suffering had the tenacity and the passion of a True Revolutionary.
It is hard to follow God’s Will, especially in some moments of crisis;
It requires extreme courage and unfailing commitment to be always walking in the path of God
She is the wonderful Revolutionary who dared to always seek and do God’s Will in Her life!
- Mary is the Yeast who silently fulfilled Her role in the plan of salvation
In the Bible, the words of Mother Mary are fairly minimal; yet Her few words and above all, Her dedicated life speaks volumes of Her role in the Salvific Plan!
She is the unseen Yeast through whom the mighty Grace of God wonderfully worked to raise up the Author of Salvation!
Blessed Mother Mary is our wonderful and beautiful mother, who deserves our greatest affection and love, in a way that draws us more and more towards Her Son, Jesus.
May we be encouraged by the words of St Maximilian Kolbe:
“Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.”
May the celebration of the Nativity of our Blessed Mother, help us to deepen our love towards Her, and may we, holding Her Hands, walk in the path of God, more faithfully and strongly committed!
As Fulton J Sheen says:
“The less we think of Him, the less we think of Her.
The more we adore His divinity, the more we venerate Her motherhood.
The less we acknowledge His divinity, the less we have respect for Her!”
A wonderful Birthday to our Blessed Mother!
We Love you, Dearest Mamma!
Happy Feast day to all Her children!
May we deepen our love for Her Beloved Son and our Saviour, Jesus!
God Bless! Live Jesus!
Fr Jijo
Bengaluru, India
Quotable-quote-a-day-with-St Francis de Sales (SFS) – ” Honour, revere and respect the Blessed Virgin Mary with a very special love; she is the Mother of our Sovereign Lord…
… and so we are Her children.
Let us think of Her with all the love and confidence of affectionate children; let us desire Her love…
… and strive with true filial hearts to imitate Her graces.
Reflection Capsules 