Akhsi Wary csc –
Readings: 2 Cor 5:14-21; Lk 2: 41-51
Today we honor the Immaculate Heart of Mary. We celebrate the immense love that Mary has for God the Father, Jesus Christ, and others. Mary had a joyful heart, as well as a heart whit that experienced brokenness.
Today’s gospel tells the story of both Mary’s heart of sorrow and her joyful heart. We heard that during travel after celebrating Passover, Jesus was lost. He was not with the group as they returned from Jerusalem. As a mother, Mary’s heart experienced pain, worry, and fear. After three days, Jesus was found in the temple teaching and questioning the elders. Imagine the joy that Mother Mary felt in her heart being reunited with her only son.
Today’s gospel very beautifully describes that many times Mary’s heart was either filled with joy or brokenness. Today, this reading invites us to recognize the great love and faithfulness of Mary, even in the times of tribulations and struggles, and make those values part of our life. Mary’s great fidelity to God was witnessed when she stood at the foot of the cross.
Situations like Mary’s are inevitable for us too. Embrace both success and failure. Thank God for the success and learn from the failures and keep going. That is what Mary did. She embraced both, she made herself vulnerable. Allowed all the good and bad situations to touch her heart but not to be weighed down by them. She kept all these in her heart and kept moving forward according to the plan of God.
Today, we pray to God through Mary that we may be steadfast in our trials, be faithful to his will and constant in pursuing holiness.