Reflection for 12th Week of Ordinary Time 

By

 

Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest, Bidar

Memorial of Immaculate heart of Mary

Today's Word of God 

Luke 2: 48-52 


When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

“Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

 

Reflection 

“And HE Went Down with Them & Came to Nazareth, & was Obedient to Them, & HIS Mother Kept All These Things in Her heart." (Luke 2: 51).

In Celebrating the Solemnity of the Sacred heart of JESUS Yesterday, Our Prayer was that GOD Give Us Hearts like that of JESUS CHRIST; that GOD Take Away Our Stony Hearts & Give Us Hearts of Flesh which are Humble, Gentle & Pure. 

Today, We are Celebrating the Life of One Woman in whom This Prayer was Granted, a Woman Whose heart was just like that of Her Son; JESUS CHRIST.

What are the Characteristics of the heart of Mary?


1. Humility. 

Mary was Never Proud. Mary Acknowledged She was just a Handmaid of GOD & She Never Went about Seeking Praise & Exultation from Her Fellow Women like the Pharisees who Loved 2b Greeted Obsequiously in the Marketplaces.


2. Silence. 

Mary Pondered a Lot of Things in Her heart. She Practised the Act of Contemplative Prayer which Some Saints have Described as the Most Perfect Form of Prayer. 

In Contemplation, We Do Not Use Words but Simply Centre Ourselves in the Presence of GOD Pondering in Our Hearts what HE Says to Us.


3. Righteousness. 

Mary Had a PURE heart. It is as a Result of Mary’s Outstanding Sinlessness that We Refer to Her heart as IMMACULATE. 

It was This Purity of heart that made GOD so Fall in Love with Her as to Choose Her 2b HIS Mother. 

In the Sermon on the Mount, JESUS Gave Us a Secret; “Blessed are the Pure in heart, for They Shall See GOD.” (Matthew 5: 8). Only a heart so Pure can Contain GOD as Mary Did.

Mary was a Virgin who Knew No Man. This is a Virtue that Needs 2b Preached & Sounded More than ever before in Our World Today that Now Sees Immodesty & Impurity as Normal. 

She Did Not Allow or Entertain Any Form of Immorality, Bitterness, Envy or Pride. 

Even when She had the Course 2b Angry as We See in Today’s Gospel Passage, She Remained Calm & Gently Pondering what JESUS Said in Her heart.

We Need to Learn from Mary how to Guard Our Hearts Against the Defilement of Evil Around U

Just as U Cannot Dwell in a Stinking Environment, Don’t Expect GOD to Dwell in a heart that is Dirty & Smelling!

Pray the Rosary Today Asking that through Mary’s Intercession, Your heart will be Cleansed. 

Happy Feast of Immaculate heart of Mary to Everyone. Immaculate heart of Mary Pray for Us.

Good Morning 

Have a beautiful day and a fabulous weekend.