Mary, with the knowledge that Jesus is the Son of God still remained obedient to the law. And on the eighth day, "took Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord", "and to offer a sacrifice in keeping to what is said in the law of the Lord: 'a pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons'." Luke 2:22-24
In the temple Mary and Joseph encountered more surprises. A "man called Simeon, who was righteous and devout" was "moved by the Holy Spirit and went into the temple courts," and took the baby Jesus into his arms and praised God for Him.
"The child's parents marveled at what was said about Him. Then Simeon blessed
them and said to Mary, the child's mother 'This child is destined to cause the
rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign to be spoken against, so
that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will
pierce your own soul too'." Luke 2:34-35
Sword piercing the soul - the warning of sorrows! Mary could have just flung her
hands up and given up here. How frightening it must have been for her, but she
subjected herself to the will of God. I think that at this point, if she spoke to
God and said she changed her mind, God would have found another way.
Remember God's gift of free will, but Mary cooperated with God in every
way possible, something that is never easy for any human being to do.
To make things more difficult, Herod decided to go on a murdering rampage
of all new born babies in the land, so Mary and Joseph had to escape
to Egypt for the safety of Jesus. This reminds me that often I too
must escape from the routines of daily life and the people around
me to find a secluded place to be alone with our Lord.
"Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. When He was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast according to custom." Luke 2:41 A very traumatic event took place, for after the Feast, the parents traveled for home unaware that Jesus stayed behind. After traveling for a day, they then realized that he was missing! They must have looked frantically in the caravans for Him and not being able to find Him, decided to quickly travel back to Jerusalem.
Finally after THREE whole days, they found Him in the temple in the company
of the teachers there. Can we ever begin to imagine how desperate and distraught
both Mary and Joseph must have been while they were rushing back to the
crowded city, thinking the worst may have happened to their little
boy, as most parents would? It would be impossible for any of us to even
try to imagine the fears that were racing through young Mary's mind!
This makes me think of how I sometimes get so lukewarm in my prayer life
for days and even months at a time. I lose Him too but when I realize it,
I must hurry back to search for Him in the familiar places where I normally
meet Him. It also makes me think of the times that I sin, and in sinning,
I've distanced myself from Him. I must then rush back to my Jesus with the
knowledge that He is waiting there for me. Everytime this happens I must
make greater efforts to keep myself in His presence where I am safe.
I think of Mary often now, who inspires me in many surprising ways. No matter what, the fact remains that there was never any lady like Mary and there never will be! She is the only mother of Jesus Christ our Lord and that is that.
I didn't always feel a deep devotion in honoring Mary, perhaps because there really isn't very many passages about Mary in the Scriptures when you look at the entirety of the Book. However, the few passages that touch on her, form a great pillar in the Scriptures and in the activities that led to our redemption.
Something special happened to me before Christmas, in November 1998, that
caused my thoughts to dwell on Mary. Looking back I feel it occurred when
I picked up the book with the Fifteen Prayers of St. Bridget and started reciting
them in honor of the wounds of our Lord during His Passion and Crucifixion.
After several nights of recitation, I began to ponder on Mary's motherly
presence at the foot of the Cross, and that's when I began to open
my heart to her, and admire this young and tender woman whose life
was filled with the most incredible events.
She is so special that Jesus performed His first miracle for her when He
changed water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana. And there she gave
us precious advice that we must cherish: "Do whatever He tells you." John 2:5
Mary traveled extensively with Jesus, seeing and feeling the things that happened to Him, as any loving mother would. How precious an only child is to any mother. She was the woman who nourished Him in her womb with her blood for nine months. She was the woman who suckled our Lord. She saw His first baby steps, nursed His first baby bruise, listened to His first baby word.I think of the times she must have rejoiced and laughed with Him when He was happy. I think of the times when she must have comforted Him when He was sad, the times she must have wept quietly alone when He was hurt and there was nothing she could do about it, and the numerous sleepless nights she suffered when the persecutions began!
My sadness at the thought of her standing at the Foot of the Cross is but only a tiny fraction of the sorrow she endured. There is only one woman who watched her only beloved Son sacrifice His life for the redemption of His friends' lives. Only she could have felt the special joy within her sorrow for the redemptive significance of her Son's death. Mary was privileged to walk the longest and most difficult road of faith with God, from the Stable to the Cross.
From the Angel Gabriel's salutation of "Hail Mary" to the shouts of the angry crowds yelling "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!", Mary did not falter.
A Mother's Sorrow:
Would there be a mother who would see her son tortured the way Jesus was
tortured? Mary saw her Son scourged! Crowned with thorns! Insulted!
Mocked! Beaten! Spat upon! Mary watched her Son carrying His Cross
through the streets, with the crowds jeering! She saw Him fall from
exhaustion and the weight of His crushing burden.
She heard the nails being hammered into His Sacred Hands and Feet! She
heard His cry of thirst and abandonement! She watched as vinegar was given
to Him! She was in agony as she watched Him suffer for love of us...for
love of me! She watched Him as He was dying for me. She stood there,
knowing that Jesus was also dying with a broken heart, while her heart
was breaking at the same time. She waited close at the Foot of the Cross
for hours, watching Him die a slow death of suffocation.
Would any mother ever know such horrors as Mary has known? Oh the joys
and sorrows of Mary's life!... How could I not honor her?!
I'm absolutely certain that Jesus Christ kept the Ten Commandments, one
of them being "Honor thy father and thy mother". I know He honored His
foster father and His Mother Mary. Our Lord would have loved His mother
dearly as the good son and would surely have protected and defended
her against any attacks. Wouldn't any of us as good children
do the same for our mother?
I love Jesus and I therefore will love those He loves. If I do not honor
and love His mother now, and He asks me, why?... than what answers
will I have for my Beloved Lord when I at last see Him
face to face, after I've taken my last breath?
Her Baby's Tiny Hands
By Joyce Folsom Johnson
While pregnant with her son
Beneath her heart within,
She'd often feel his hands
Moving inside her skin.
He'd stretch his arm and hand
And push out on her side,
She'd lovingly push it back
With a smile so sweet and wide.
She could hardly wait
For his upcoming birth,
To touch his tiny hands
And welcome him to earth.
Then it finally came,
The night that he was born,
With joy she couldn't contain,
She held him until morn.
She explored his tiny fingers,
She counted all his toes,
She wanted to get to know him,
His ears, his cheeks, his nose.
The wonder of it all,
At this new baby boy!
She could not hold back,
She wept with tears of joy.
She touched his tiny hand,
A miniature of her own,
He squeezed it tight on her finger.,
Such joy she had never known!
The time passed and he grew.
As a toddler, it was grand
To walk along and hold
His fleshy little hand.
She taught him many things.
Together they spent hours.
She'd take his little hand
And touch it to a flower.
When she would hold him close,
He soon developed the knack
Of hugging her 'round the neck,
His tiny hand patting her back.
As her son grew older,
His young hands also grew.
He learned many ways to use them,
Each day brought something new.
She helped him learn to read,
She helped him learn to write;
Then, as the day was ending,
She'd pray with him at night.
He learned to use a hammer,
With which to drive a nail,
He'd sometimes strike his finger
And let out quite a wail!
Her son continued growing
And soon became a man,
She loved him just as much
As when his life began.
His hands were now full grown,
So strong, yet tender, when
He, with deep compassion,
Comforted a friend.
She was extremely grateful
When his hands would fold;
And bowing his head in prayer,
To his Father in Heaven he'd hold.
As the years flew swiftly by,
She watched her son with pride,
His strong but gentle arms
And hands there at his side.
She then thought her life was over,
She suffered unspeakable loss,
When her son's beloved hands
Were nailed to a wooden cross...
But that was just the beginning,
For he died and rose again,
Her sorrow then was ended
And joy replaced her pain.
For, you see, her son was Jesus,
God coming to earth as man,
To save us from our sins
According to His plan.
We cannot save ourselves,
Our sins would lead to death,
God put our sins on Jesus,
The perfect and the best.
With this came our forgiveness
If we believe in Him
And ask Him into our hearts,
He'll take away our sins.
As He was resurrected,
Eternal life He'll bring
To all who have faith and believe
And to His hand will cling.
The Annchor | 15 Prayers | Crucifixion | Inspirations | John 3:16 | Devotions | Angels | Memorial
Pan-A-Vision
|
AnnDangered
|
Panpals
|
Panasia
|
PanIsland
|
Pantasy and Legends
Pan, Peter and Ann
|
Awards
|
My Awards
|
AnnHancer
|
Home
The beautiful images of Our Lady have been
taken from a site you just have to visit:
Celebrating the Beauty of Catholicism
The Mother of God and Ever Virgin Mary
