Pastoral Reflections

     His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI, writes that "...precisely because Mary is with God and in God, she is very close to each one of us."  While in "this" life, Mary was present to a limited number of people---just as you and I are so present to a limited "audience" because of the restraints of time and place---she is now free from those limits.  We reflect on Mary's presence and influence at the Wedding Feast of Cana; her visit to her kinswoman, Elizabeth to help her at the time of her pregnancy; her presence during the Passion and Crucifixion of her Son, Jesus.  Now, as our Holy Father states, she is able to be present to each one of us to tell us to "do whatever He [Jesus] tells you"; to visit us in our need; to comfort us in our sufferings.  Because of her life in God and the fact that God is "everywhere", she and ALL who have gone before us in faith and live with God in Heaven, are able to walk with us without any limitation.
 
     The only barrier that may exist between us and the Blessed Virgin Mary---and in fact, the only barrier that may be between us and God---is that which we impose by our free will.  By that "free will" we are in a position to resist God's grace---His presence---in our lives.  Mary certainly wants us to have a deep and personal relationship with her Divine Son, Jesus, thus prompting us to "do whatever He tells you".  We, for a variety of reasons, may respond by our inaction or our words, whether spoken or silent, I don't want to do what He wants; I want to do what "I" want!!!  And then when we find our self in some predicament that we do not like, God gets the blame.
 
     The Blessed Virgin Mary, fully human as are we, assists us by her prayers and intercession to conform our will to the Will of God our Father.  She guides us by her example and especially her faith that allowed the words "...the Almighty has done great things for me and holy is His name." to be spoken by her at The Visitation, as heard in the gospel today, Luke 1:39-56.  May we speak those words---first in the silence of our hearts---and then live them out as we go about the often busy activity of our day.  May that reality that "He has done great things" for us, calm us and heal us so as to reflect His "greatness" to others as Mary did and continues to do so for us from her place in Heaven. 
 
                  Praised be Jesus Christ.......
                       for entrusting His Body, the Church,
                           to His mother, Mary..........
                             ...now and forever.  AMEN!
 
                             Fr. Samuel Houser 
 
 

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Published on: 2004-02-26 (3859 reads)