Archive for the ‘Saintly People’ Category

The Saints of the Week

August 18, 2013

●  August 20—St. Bernard of Clairvaux

He was a 12th century abbot and a reformer and Doctor of the Church. You may know the beautiful Memorare Prayer he composed:

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to thee do I come; before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.  Amen.

 ●  August 21—St. Pope Pius X

This Holy Father, who reigned from 1903 t0 1914, notably promoted the daily reception of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist:

“If the Angels could envy, they would envy us for Holy Communion.”

“My advice is that you receive holy communion frequently—if you cannot do so daily—and unite yourself to the Savior. Make frequent visits to him in the solitude and silence of the tabernacle.”

●  August 22—The Queenship of St. Mary

Why do we celebrate the Blessed Virgin Mary as a queen? In the days of the Davidic kingdom, Jerusalem’s kings took multiple wives. Who, then, was considered the queen? The king’s mother was acknowledged as queen mother. She had a throne at the king’s right hand, the seat of honor, and served as a special intercessor in the kingdom, bringing subjects’ requests to her son. (See 1 Kings 2:17-20)

St. Mary, our sweet Lady, is the mother of Jesus, the everlasting Davidic king whose reign extends over all. Therefore, in his Kingdom, Mary is the queen mother, the queen of heaven and earth, the celebrated queen of all creation. She now sits enthroned at Christ’s right hand and serves as a powerful and compassionate intercessor for us all.

What do the Virgin Mary & the Ark of the Covenant Have in Common?

August 17, 2013

The Ark of the Covenant bore the presence of God and three other important things, while Mary’s womb bears Jesus Christ, our Priest, Prophet and King. (Hebrews 9:4)

The Ark bore the Ten Commandments, the word of God in stone, while Mary’s womb carries Jesus Christ, the Word of God in flesh. (Deuteronomy 31:26, John 1:14)

The Ark bore the staff of Aaron which had miraculously blossomed, while Mary’s womb carries Jesus Christ, a bud blossoming miraculously from the stump of Jesse. (Numbers 17:10, Isaiah 11:1)

The Ark bore a gold container of Manna from heaven, while Mary’s womb carries Jesus Christ, the Bread from heaven. (Hebrews 9:4, John 6:41)

The Ark was made of wood overlaid with pure gold, inside and out, while Mary is a human being who is made “full of grace.” (Exodus 25:10-11, Luke 1:28)

King David joyfully leaped and danced before the Ark, while St. John the Baptist leaps within his mother’s womb at Mary’s arrival. (2 Samuel 6:14, Luke 1:44)

David asks, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me,” while St. Elizabeth asks, “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (2 Samuel 6:9, Luke 1:43)

The Ark remained in the house of Obed-edom outside Jerusalem for three months and God blessed his whole house, while Mary remains in the house of Zechariah in Judea for three months. (2 Sam 6:14, Luke 1:56)

No man was to touch God’s holy Ark, lest they die. St. Joseph holds a similar reverent regard towards Mary, his wife. (Numbers 4:15, 2 Samuel 6:7, Matthew 1:25)

The Ark was a mercy-seat which served as the throne for God’s presence on earth. “On entering the house [the Magi] saw the child with Mary his mother.” (Exodus 25:22, Matthew 2:11)

In his vision of heaven, St. John saw the Ark revealed. The next thing he sees is a glorious woman pregnant with the Christ child. (Revelation 11:19, 12:1)

Just as the Ark of the Covenant was of central, though secondary, importance in the Old Covenant, so God gives the Blessed Virgin Mary an essential role in his New Covenant.

We Keep Only What We Have Given

August 6, 2013

By St. Basil the Great (330-379 AD)

You are going to leave your money behind you here whether you wish to or not. On the other band, you will take with you to the Lord the honor that you have won through good works. In the presence of the universal judge, all the people will surround you, acclaim you as a public benefactor, and tell of your generosity and kindness.

Do you not see how people throw away their wealth on theatrical performances, boxing contests, mimes and fights between men and wild beasts, which are sickening to see, and all for the sake of fleeting honor and popular applause? If you are miserly with your money, how can you expect any similar honor? Your reward for the right use of the things of this world will be everlasting glory, a crown of righteousness, and the kingdom of heaven; God will welcome you, the angels will praise you, all men who have existed since the world began will call you blessed. Do you care nothing for these things, and spurn the hopes that lie in the future for the sake of your present enjoyment. Come, distribute your wealth freely, give generously to those who are in need. Earn for yourself the psalmist’s praise: He gave freely to the poor; his righteousness will endure forever.

How grateful you should be to your own benefactor; how you should beam with joy at the honor of having other people come to your door, instead of being obliged to go to theirs! But you are now ill-humoured and unapproachable; you avoid meeting people, in case you might be forced to loosen your purse-strings even a little. You can say only one thing: “I have nothing to give you. I am only a poor man.” A poor man you certainly are, and destitute of all real riches; you are poor in love, generosity, faith in God and hope of eternal happiness.

The Work & Riches God Esteems

August 6, 2013

Two weeks ago, Martha approached Jesus to complain about her sister, “Tell her to help me.” Today, a man goes to Jesus to complain about his brother, “Tell my brother to share the inheritance with me.” While both complaints are seemingly appeals for justice, Jesus refuses them. They are actually centered on selfishness rather than love. Jesus says, “it will not be taken from her,” and “take care to guard against all greed.”

The rich man in the parable says to himself, “You have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry,” but the God says, “You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you.” The rich man is about to come to face his judgment as a truly poor man—possessing no wealth “in what matters to God.”

Martha is corrected for being obsessed with her anxious, self-centered work. The Rich Man is condemned for aspiring to an easy life of leisure. We are called to avoid both errors as we work diligently with generous love to accrue the kind of riches that God esteems.

The Wisdom of the Saints

July 25, 2013

“You cannot be half a saint; you must be a whole saint
or no saint at all.”

-St. Therese of Lisieux

“If you are what you should be, you will set the whole world ablaze!”

St. Catherine of Sienna

“You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by  working, and just so, you learn to love by loving. All those who think to learn in any other way deceive themselves.”

-St. Francis de Sales

“Let us go forward in peace, our eyes upon heaven,
the only one goal of our labors.”

-St. Therese of Lisieux

“Love God, serve God; everything is in that.”

-St. Clare of Assisi

“Pray as though everything depended on God.
Work as though everything depended on you.”

-St. Augustine

“Pray, hope, and don’t worry”

-St. Pio of Pietrelcino

Who’s Who — 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time—Year C

July 14, 2013

Who are the “thrones, dominions, principalities and powers” mentioned in today’s second reading?

Saint Paul is listing four varieties of angels who have differing roles in serving God. Angels are purely spiritual creatures who were made through and for Christ. They have minds for knowing and freewill for choosing—this makes them persons and capable of love. The angels always glorify God and  serve in his saving plans for other creatures. Sometimes they are His messengers, like Gabriel at the Annunciation. Some serve as guardians; over whole nations or even the least children (see Daniel 10 & Matthew 18:10.) Archangels and our guardian angels are thought to belong to the lowest levels in the hierarchy of angels—well below the power of the ranks that Saint Paul mentioned—yet we do well to remember to pray for their help. Even the least of our angelic protectors is more powerful than any flesh and blood foe. Even the highest demons who act against God’s will can be overcome by humble angels, as the archangel Saint Michael’s victory over the devil proves (see Revelation 12:7-9.)

In our Gospel, Jesus is questioned by a “scholar of the Law.”  What does that title tell us about that man?

He was an expert on the Old Covenant Law of Moses and its 613 commandments. The scribes in Jesus’ day were regarded as scholars of the Law but tended to be hostile toward Christ.

A “Levite” passed on the opposite side. Who were the Levites?

These were men of the tribe of Levi (though not descended from Aaron like the Jewish priests) who were appointed to assist in the worship and rituals at the Temple in Jerusalem. A commandment in the Law of Moses required Levites (and priests) to avoid contact with dead bodies in order to remain ritually pure, which is probably why they passed by on the opposite side of the road.

The Samaritan showed mercy. Who were the “Samaritans?”

The Samaritans were a mixed-race people descended from intermarriage between Israelites and Assyrian colonists. They dwelt in Samaria, the region between Galilee and Judea. Samaritans worshiped the same God as the Jews and kept many of the same religious practices, but they rejected the priesthood at Mt. Zion and worshiped instead on their own Mt. Gerizim. The enmity between the Jews and Samaritans was so great that Jews traveling between Galilee and Judea often crossed the Jordan to bypass the land of Samaira entirely.

St. Paul’s Advice to Thessalonica’s Parish and Yours

June 18, 2013
  • Encourage and build one another up.
  • Respect, honor, and love those who serve over you in the Lord.
  • Be at peace among yourselves.
  • Admonish the idle.
  • Cheer the fainthearted.
  • Support the weak.
  • Be patient with all.
  • Never return evil for evil.
  • Always seek what is good for all.
  • Always rejoice.
  • Always pray.
  • Always give thanks.
  • Do not quench the Spirit.
  • Do not despise prophetic utterances.
  • Test everything; retain what is good.
  • Refrain from every kind of evil.

(See 1 Thessalonians 5)

Autobiographical Beatitudes — Tuesday, 10th Week in Ordinary Time—Year I

June 11, 2013

The Beatitudes of Jesus are autobiographical:

Jesus was poor in spirit.
Jesus mourned.
Jesus was meek.
Jesus hungered and thirsted for righteousness.
Jesus was merciful.
Jesus was clean of heart.
Jesus was a peacemaker.
Jesus was persecuted for the sake of righteousness.
Jesus was insulted and persecuted and had every kind of evil uttered against him falsely.

Jesus’ saints are people like him, and they share in his reward:

Theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
They are now comforted.
They inherit the land.
They are now satisfied.
They have been shown mercy.
They now see God.
They are his children.
Theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
And their reward is great in heaven.

Today, St. Paul told the Corinthians:  “Our hope for you is firm, for we know that as you share in the sufferings, you also share in the encouragement.”  If you and I share in Christ’s likeness, we too will share in the reward that belongs to Jesus and his saints.

Eliakim the Prime Minister Prefigures Peter

April 28, 2013

Eliakim, son of Hilkiah, was master of the palace, the prime minister in the Davidic kingdom. (Isa 22:15,20)
Simon Peter, son of Jonah, is always first in lists of Jesus’ Apostles—while Judas is listed last. (Matt 16:17, Matt 10:2, Mark 3:16. Luke 6:14, Acts 1:13)

Eliakim’s predecessor, Shebna, had hewn a tomb in a great rock which he hoped would be a lasting a resting place. (Isa 22:16)
Simon Peter is declared to be the “rock” (“Petros”) upon which Jesus will build his Church. (Matt 16:18)

Eliakim was clothed with a robe and girded with a sash. (Isa 22:21)
Peter stretches out his hands to be dressed by another. (John 21:18)

Eliakim was “a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.” (Isa 22:21)
Peter is the pope (“papa” or “Holy Father”) to the Church on earth.

Eliakim was given authority, “the key of the House of David.” (Isa 22:22)
Peter is given “the keys to the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 16:19)

The Lord said of Eliakim, “What he opens, no one will shut, what he shuts, no one will open.” (Isa 22:22)
Jesus says to Peter, “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matt 16:19)

Jesus Christ’s Holy Mass

April 25, 2013

“The celebration of Holy Mass is as valuable as the death of Jesus on the cross.” —St. Thomas Aquinas

“Man should tremble, the world should vibrate, all Heaven should be deeply moved when the Son of God appears on the altar in the hands of the priest.” —St. Francis of Assisi

“It would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do without Holy Mass.” —St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina

“One single Mass gives more honor to God than all the penances of the Saints, the labors of the Apostles, the sufferings of the martyrs, and even the burning love of the Blessed Mother of God.” —St. Alphonsus Liguori

“All the good works in the world are not equal to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass because they are the works of men; but the Mass is the work of God. Martyrdom is nothing in comparison for it is but the sacrifice of man to God; but the Mass is the sacrifice of God for man.” —St. John Vianney

 “If the Angels could envy, they would envy us for Holy Communion.” —St. Pope Pius X

 “Do you realize that Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you–for you alone? He burns with the desire to come into your heart.” —St. Thérèse of Lisieux

The Ark of the Covenant Prefigures Mary

April 23, 2013

The Ark of the Covenant bore the presence of God and three important things. (Heb 9:4)
Mary’s womb bears Jesus Christ, our Priest, Prophet and King.

The Ark of the Covenant bore the Ten Commandments, the word of God in stone. (Deut 31:26)
Mary’s womb carries Jesus, the Word of God in flesh. (John 1:14)

The Ark of the Covenant bore the staff of Aaron which had miraculously blossomed. (Num 17:10)
Mary’s womb carries Jesus, a bud blossoming miraculously from the stump of Jesse. (Isa 11:1) 

The Ark of the Covenant bore a gold container of Manna from heaven. (Heb 9:4)
Mary’s womb carries Jesus, the Bread from heaven. (John 6:41) 

The Ark of the Covenant was made of wood overlaid with pure gold, inside and out. (Exo 25:10-11)
Mary is a human being made “full of grace.” (Luke 1:28) 

King David joyfully leaped and danced before the Ark of the Covenant. (2 Sam 6:14)
John the Baptist leaps in his mother’s womb at Mary’s arrival. (Luke 1:44) 

David said, “How can the ark of the Lord come to me?” (2 Sam 6:9)
Elizabeth says, “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (Luke 1:43) 

The Ark of the Covenant remained in the house of Obed-edom outside Jerusalem for three months, and God blessed his whole house. (2 Sam 6:14)
Mary remains in the house of Zechariah in the hill country of Judea for three months. (Luke 1:56) 

No man was to touch the holy Ark of the Covenant, lest they die. (Num 4:15, 2 Sam 6:7)
Joseph holds a similar reverent regard towards Mary, his wife. (Matt 1:25) 

The Ark of the Covenant’s mercy-seat served as the throne for God’s presence on earth. (Exo 25:22)
“On entering the house (the Magi) saw the child with Mary his mother.” (Matt 2:11) 

In his vision, St. John saw the Ark of the Covenant revealed in heaven. (Rev 11:19)
The next thing he sees is a glorious woman pregnant with the Christ child. (Rev 12:1)

Eve Prefigures Mary

April 23, 2013

Tempted by a demon, Eve distrusted God, leading to our fall.
Greeted by an angel, Mary trusts God, leading to our salvation.

Eve was “the mother of all the living.” (Gen 3:20)
Mary’s offspring are “those who keep God’s commandments and bear witness to Jesus.” (Rev 12:17)

Because of her sin, Eve was covered with dirt. (Gen 3:19)
Because of her faith, Mary is clothed with the sun. (Rev 12:1)

Seeing Jesus At Your Job — 3rd Sunday of Easter—Year C

April 15, 2013

In the seven weeks between Easter and Pentecost, the apostles were filled with faith in the risen Christ, but they lacked something to do. In those days, the visible Christ was not constantly with them and the Holy Spirit had not yet prompted them to preach the good news about Jesus. The apostles had not yet been entrusted with any task, so they had nothing to do.  Even if you are someone who has witnessed Jesus Christ risen from the dead, you still need to eat. Therefore Peter says, “I am going fishing,” and six others join him. Fishing the Sea of Galilee was Peter’s business and livelihood before Jesus called him.

In today’s Gospel, Peter goes back to his old job. Then, unexpectedly, Jesus comes to Peter’s place of work. Jesus comes disguised (as his resurrected body allows) and at first the disciples do not recognize him. But, when they realize it is Jesus, they begin acting differently. How would you treat the Lord if he came to where you work?

Perhaps you’ve heard of the importance of ‘seeing Jesus in other people.’ ‘Seeing Jesus in others’ means treating them as you would treat Jesus Christ himself. Of course, a Christian should not worship anyone or anything but God, but Jesus wants us to love other people by using our love for him. The Gospel of Matthew says, when Jesus comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he shall sit upon the throne of his glory, and before him shall be gathered all nations. And Jesus, the king, will say to them, “Amen, I say unto you, inasmuch as you did it to one of these least of brethren of mine, you did for me.”

Sometimes we mentally separate our work from our faith, but remember that we are to serve and honor Jesus always and everywhere. Jesus comes to you at the place where you work, unexpectedly and disguised, in your customers, your peers, and your bosses. See Jesus in other people and love them using your love for him.

En las siete semanas entre Pascua y Pentecostés, los apóstoles estaban llenos de fe en Cristo resucitado, pero les faltaba algo que hacer. En aquellos días, el Cristo no era visible constantemente con ellos y el Espíritu Santo no había impulsado aún a predicar las buenas nuevas acerca de Jesús. Los apóstoles no había sido confiado con cualquier tarea, no tenían nada que hacer. Incluso si usted es alguien que ha visto a Jesús resucitado de entre los muertos, usted todavía necesita comer. Por lo tanto, Pedro dice: “Voy a pescar”, y seis otros seguirlo. Pesca en el Mar de Galilea era el negocio de Pedro y su subsistencia antes de que Jesús lo llamara.

En el evangelio de hoy, Pedro vuelve a su antiguo trabajo. Entonces, inesperadamente, Jesús viene al lugar de trabajo de Pedro. Jesús viene disfrazado (como su cuerpo resucitado permite) y al principio los discípulos no lo reconocen. Pero, cuando se dan cuenta que lo es Jesús, ellos empiezan a comportarse de manera diferente. ¿Cómo trataría usted al Señor si él llegó a su lugar de trabajo?

Tal vez usted ha oído hablar de la importancia de “ver a Jesús en los demás”. “Ver a Jesús en los demás” significa tratarlos como haría tratar el mismo Jesucristo. Por supuesto, un cristiano no debe adorar a nadie ni a nada sino a Dios, pero Jesús quiere que amemos a los demás mediante el uso de nuestro amor por él. El Evangelio de Mateo dice que cuando Jesús venga en su gloria, y todos los santos ángeles con él, entonces se sentará sobre el trono de su gloria y serán reunidas delante de él todas las gentes. Entonces Jesús el Rey nos dirá: “De cierto os digo que en cuanto lo hicisteis á uno de estos mis hermanos pequeñitos, á mí lo hicisteis”.

Estamos mentalmente separar nuestro trabajo de nuestra fe a veces, pero recuerde que estamos para servir y honrar a Jesús siempre y en todas partes. Jesús viene a usted en el lugar donde usted trabaja, de forma inesperada y disfrazada, en sus clientes, sus compañeros y sus jefes. Ver a Jesús en los demás y amarlos con su amor por él.

Our Thrice Holy God — 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time—Year C

March 3, 2013

The ancient Hebrews did not have a word that means “very.” To describe something or someone as “very beautiful” they would use the word twice, “It is beautiful, beautiful.” And to describe something or someone as “the most beautiful” they repeated the word three times: “She is beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.” This is the reason Isaiah hears the angels saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord.” The Lord is the most holy, sacred, pure, and perfect.

It can feel overwhelming to be in the presence of the holy Lord. Isaiah exclaimed, “Woe is me, I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips.” Peter says, “Depart from me Lord, for I am a sinner!” This Wednesday we begin another season of Lent, because we are sinners and God is holy. Yet, the Lord purifies Isaiah with the ember from the altar. And Jesus reassures Peter, “Do not fear.” St. Paul says: “I am unworthy to be called an apostle. However, by the grace of God I am what I am”.

God is not very concerned about where we have been. God is more concerned about where we are going. Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future. Jesus says to you, “Be not afraid.” No matter where you’ve been, no matter what you’ve done, God can do great things with Jesus Christ in you.

Los antiguos hebreos no tenían una palabra que significa “muy”. Para describir algo o alguien como “muy hermoso” usarían la palabra dos veces, “Es hermoso, hermoso”. Y para describir algo o alguien como “la más hermosa”, repitieron la palabra tres veces: “Es hermosa, hermosa, hermosa.” Esta es la razón Isaías oye a los ángeles diciendo: “Santo, santo, santo es el Señor”. El Señor es el más santo, puro sagrado y perfecto.

Esto puede ser abrumador para estar en la presencia del Señor santo. Isaías exclamó: “¡Ay de mí, estoy perdido, porque soy un hombre de labios impuros”! Pedro dice: “Apártate de mí, Señor, porque soy un pecador!” Somos pecadores y Dios es santo. Este miércoles comenzar otro tiempo de Cuaresma, porque somos pecadores y Dios es santo. Sin embargo, el Señor purifica Isaías con la brasa del altar. Y Jesús tranquiliza a Pedro: “No temas”. San   Pablo dice: “Soy indigno de llamarme apostól. Sin embargo, por la gracia de Dios, soy lo que soy”.

Dios no está muy preocupado acerca de dónde hemos estado. Dios está más preocupado por dónde vamos. Cada santo tiene un pasado y todo pecador tiene un futuro. Jesús te dice: “No temas.” No importa dónde has estado, no importa lo que has hecho, Dios puede hacer grandes cosas con Jesús Cristo en ti.

Mary’s Advice — 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time—Year C

March 3, 2013

The Blessed Virgin Mary is the greatest woman who has ever lived. She is the mother of God, but also our mother, our sister, and our friend. Mary is so easy for us to love because she is so lovable and she loves us a lot. God loves Mary even more than we do and, like a man in love, he speaks about her throughout the Bible, from the beginning to the end.

In Genesis, God speaks of Mary when he says to the serpent-devil, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers.” And in the book of Revelation, ‘A great sign appears in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She gives birth to a son, a male child, destined to rule all the nations….’

In our first reading today, when the Lord professes his love for Mount Zion and the city of Jerusalem, he is speaking about the people symbolized by these places.  First among these is Mary, the virgin and bride, in whom God, the builder and bridegroom, rejoices.

Maybe you will be surprised to learn that, despite her great importance, Mary speaks on only four occasions in all the Scriptures. (Her husband, St. Joseph, utters no words at all, and so we imagine him as being a quiet man.) Mary speaks at the Annunciation, at the Visitation, upon the Finding of the Boy Jesus in the Temple, and at today’s Wedding Feast of Cana.

Mary’s words are few, but powerful. For instance, today we hear the profound last words that Mary speaks in the Bible. Mary says to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” That’s good advice for Christians in every age. “Do whatever Jesus tells you.” This has essentially been Our Lady’s message to us at every Marian apparition throughout the centuries since then. Mary never tells us anything different from the Gospel’s message, but encourages, or gravely reminds us: “Do whatever he tells you.”

This is not only Mary’s message, but also the way she lived and lives her life. At the Annunciation, when Mary said, “I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done unto me according to your word,” she was essentially saying, ‘Lord, I want to do whatever you say.’ When Mary gave the servants her instruction she did not know what Jesus was going to do, it seemed like he might do nothing, but she trusted in him. She trusted that whatever the Lord wished would truly be best.

Mary wants us to have this attitude our lives too; to trust in his care when unexpected problems arise; to trust him when we are burdened by carrying the heavy waters of our duty. Jesus’ plans may not be what we would prefer but they will always be the best. Jesus transformed Cana’s water into wine. Mary says, “Do whatever he tells you.” Listen to Mary and see what he transforms in your life.

La Santísima Virgen María es la mujer más grande que jamás haya vivido. Ella es la madre de Dios, sino también nuestra madre, nuestra hermana y nuestra amiga. María es tan fácil que nos encanta, porque es digno de ser amado y nos ama mucho. Dios ama a María incluso más que nosotros y, como un hombre enamorado, habla de ella a través de la Biblia, desde el principio hasta el final.

En el Génesis, Dios habla de María cuando le dice a la serpiente-demonio, “Y pondré enemistad entre ti y la mujer, y entre tu descendencia y la suya.” Y en el libro de Apocalipsis, ‘aparecia entonces en el cielo una figura prodigiosa: una mujer envuelta por el sol, con la luna bajo sus pies y con una corona de doce estrellas en la cabeza…. La mujer da a luz un hijo varón, destinado a gobernar todas las naciones….’

En nuestra primera lectura de hoy, cuando el Señor le declara su amor por el monte de Sión y la ciudad de Jerusalén, está hablando acerca de la gente simbolizados por estos lugares. La primera de ellas es María, la doncella y la esposa, en quien Dios se alegra.

Tal vez usted se sorprenderá al saber que, a pesar de su gran importancia, Mary habla en sólo cuatro ocasiones en todas las Escrituras. (Su esposo, San José, pronuncia ninguna palabra en absolute, y así nos imaginamos a José como un hombre tranquilo.) Ella habla en la Anunciación, en la Visitación, en el hallazgo del Niño Jesús en el Templo, y en la banquete de la boda de Caná de hoy.

Las palabras de María son pocas, pero poderosas. Por ejemplo, hoy oímos las palabras últimas María habla en la Biblia. María dice a los servían: “Hagan lo que Él les diga.” Es un buen consejo para los cristianos de todas las épocas. “Hagan lo que Jesús les diga.” Esto ha sido esencialmente el mensaje de Nuestra Señora a nosotros en cada aparición mariana a través de los siglos desde entonces. Ella nunca nos dice nada diferente que el mensaje del Evangelio, sino que alienta o gravemente nos recuerda: “Haced lo que Él os diga.”

Esto no es sólo María mensaje, sino también la forma en que vivió y vive su vida. En la Anunciación, cuando María dijo: ” Yo soy esclava del Señor, que Dios haga conmigo cono me has dicho,” fue básicamente diciendo: “Señor, quiero hacer lo que dice.” Cuando María dio a los criados su instrucción, María no sabía que Jesús iba a hacer, parecía como si fuera a hacer nada, pero ella confiaba en él. Confía en que cualquier cosa que el Señor ha querido realmente sería lo mejor.

María quiere que tengamos esta actitud en nuestra vida también, a confiar en el cuidado de Jesús cuando se producen problemas, confiar en Jesús cuando estamos agobiados por llevar las aguas pesadas de nuestros deberes. Los planes de Jesús no puede ser lo que nosotros preferiríamos, pero siempre será mejor. Jesús transformó el agua en vino de Caná. María dice, “Haced lo que Él os diga.” Escuche a María y ver lo que se transforma en su vida.