Luke 2:19, 21
“And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart…When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.”
“Mary comes to the temple without attracting any attention. She has only the offering of the poor—a pair of turtle doves—yet she offers God. O admirable model! Such ought all our
sacrifices be: of immense value before God, but hidden before the world” (Blessed Pauline, 1848).
Two mothers, both following the call of the Heavenly Father: In the Gospel of Luke, we see Mary, our heavenly mother, keeping all in her heart. She was obedient to the voice of the angel before the birth of her Divine Son. She continued to show her obedience by having him circumcised into the covenant of his earthly forefathers. Her silent obedience continued to the foot of his cross.
In the maxim quoted above, we see the love of a second Mother, Pauline. In her love and dedication to following Mary, she reflects on the part of the story not told in today’s Gospel. She, like Mary, would strive to follow the call of the heavenly Father in all simplicity, not calling attention to herself, but striving to offer even what may have seemed to the world to be the poorest of offerings within the context of the greatest sacrifice of the cross.
Today, as daughters of so noble a pair of Mothers, let us reflect: Are my sacrifices truly hidden, letting the holocaust burn to the last cinder, or do I try to save some of the remains, not willing to go to the cross? Let us bravely follow our Mothers, in silent, but great sacrifice.
___________________________________________________________________________
We are grateful to the Sisters of Christian Charity who wrote the reflections that have touched our hearts and souls since the First Sunday of Advent, December 3. May God bless you for your generosity in giving your time and talent to make these reflections possible.
No comments:
Post a Comment