Faithfulness and Love

Category Archives: Blessed Virgin Mary

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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There are several words, practices or beliefs in our Christian faith which cannot be explicitly found in the Bible. For example, the word “Trinity” is not specifically mentioned anywhere in the Bible, but Christians still believe that our God is a Trinitarian God or a Trinity. Likewise, the word “Christmas” is not found anywhere in the Bible, but many Christians celebrate Christmas to remind us of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just because a word is not found in the Bible, does that mean it is not true? No. This is because many of these words, practices or beliefs are what we call “Sacred Tradition” which Christians have accepted from the earliest times.

The Memorial of the presentation of Mary in the Temple is another belief among Catholics which is not found in the Bible but from sources other than the Bible. It is found in an extra-biblical source called the Infancy Narrative of James. According to that text, Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anne had been childless, but then they received a message from heaven that they would have a child. In thanksgiving, they brought the child Mary to the Temple to consecrate her to the Lord. It is believed that Mary remained in the Temple to be formed and prepared for her role as the Mother of God. This feast shows that even in her childhood Mary was completely dedicated to God. It is from this account that arose the Memorial of Mary’s Presentation.

From this Memorial, we are reminded of our presentation, dedication and consecration to God when we were baptised. We were transformed from an old self to a new self, to be God’s chosen children. As God’s children, our duty is to go forth to preach the Good News and to present our lives as an offering that is pleasing to God. Just as Mary fulfilled her mission to bring Jesus Christ into the world, we too are called, chosen and sent to fulfil our mission in bringing His message into the world. Are we following Mary’s example and doing our part earnestly, diligently and joyfully?

Our Lady of the Rosary, Memorial

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Throughout her life on earth, Mary said yes to God. We read of many instances of Mary saying yes. In today’s Gospel, the angel Gabriel brought news that she would become the mother of God, Jesus Christ. Though she knew the consequences of this news, she still said yes. When she went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, she said yes to God’s greatness in the Magnificat. At the wedding in Cana, once again we hear of Mary saying yes, by letting God take care of things, when she said: “Do whatever He tells you.”

Today, we celebrate the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary. The rosary and the mysteries we meditate on reminds us of the many yesses that Mary had said to God. When we pray the rosary, we are not praying to Mary, as some may believe. We are praying with Mary, and asking her to pray for us. When we pray the rosary, we are not only reminded of Mary’s yesses, but we are also reminded of our own yesses. Have we truly, like Mary, said yes to God? Are we willing to be humble and learn from Him, and depend on His providence and love, just as Mary did?

Our Lady of Sorrows, Memorial

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Our lives are often filled with good times and bad times. We see all sorts of good and bad things happening around us. We see countries at war, famine at certain places, injustices around us, society crumbling or breaking apart and other issues which could make us feel down, frustrated and some may even despair. However, we also see situations which lift up our spirits: the birth of a child, the beauty of a rainbow, people helping people despite of the sufferings they may be facing, and other events which could help us have more faith and hope.

Mother Mary too had her share of good times and bad times, and in today’s memorial, we see the ultimate sacrifice she endured. Her son, Jesus, was crucified and was dying on the cross. Surely, as a mother, she would have experienced tremendous pain and sorrow. Which mother could bear watching her son die? Some mothers would have hid away, but not Mother Mary. She went through the ordeal with courage. But was this the end? Would Mother Mary be left abandoned? No. We read in the Gospel: “Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son. Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home.” By doing this, Jesus was not only giving his mother to the disciple he loved, but also giving his mother to each and every one of us.

When we are faced with sorrow or difficulties, let us take heart that we have our loving Heavenly Mother watching over us. Our Heavenly Mother beckons us to offer our sorrows or difficulties to God as a fragrant offering, with trust and confidence that she will intercede for us and God will help and guide us. Oh Mother of Sorrows, pray for us, and guide us to your son Jesus.

Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Feast

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Each and every one of us has got a purpose and role in God’s plan of salvation. Sometimes we do not know what our purpose and role is. Sometimes we are aware of our purpose and role, but we do not understand why we are in such a purpose and role. Whatever the circumstances may be, our purpose and role is significant and not something we take upon ourselves. It is God who chooses us to fulfil such a purpose and role, no matter how big or small it may be.

In today’s Gospel, we see the genealogy of Jesus. Each of His “ancestors” in the genealogy had a purpose and role in God’s salvific plan, and this geneology also includes women being mentioned. This shows that God’s plan of salvation involves different sorts of people, regardless of gender. Though we may wonder how some of these people fitted in, seeing that some of them lived “colourful” lives, we should remember that God can make crooked lines straight, and what we think as unsuitable is suitable in His plan. Even Mary, whose birthday we celebrate today, was not exempted from questioning eyes among the Israelites. Yet, God found her suitable and even gave her the honour of being mother of His son Jesus Christ.

If we feel as if we are too incapable or too sinful to serve any purpose in building God’s Kingdom, take heart and know that God has His ways. He can transform what may seem to be a bad reputation or situation to something beautiful. Are we humble and willing to let Him transform us?

Our Lady, Mother and Queen

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Being a mother is certainly not an easy thing. We sometimes come across articles of how some women go through great difficulty and sacrifices to bring up their children well. We also see stories on television on how some mothers go through great pain and suffering so that their children would have a better life. Some mothers also go through depression due to the strains of motherhood.

In today’s Gospel, we come across Mary receiving news from Angel Gabriel that she would be the mother of Jesus. For an unmarried woman to become pregnant in those days, such a woman would have been persecuted and even put to death. Today in some cultures, such a woman may be shunned, obstracised, expelled from the village, or even put to death. Mary knew what she was getting herself into, and yet she was still willing to go ahead with God’s plan. She trusted that God would make a way and that He would take care of things. With full of trust and confidence in God’s providence, Mary willingly and wholeheartedly said: “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me.”

What about us? If we are faced with a similar situation, would we trust God and say the same words as Mary said? If we were to rely on our own abilities and our own strength, we may find it difficult or even impossible. But if we rely on God’s providence and care, nothing indeed is impossible to God.

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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Life seems tough. We see people struggling day by day, some trying to make ends meet, some going through mental or physical pain, some worrying about what is going to happen in the future, some devastated by the recent lost of a loved one. So many things happening around us could cause some to feel down, and even cause some to give up or despair. But is this the end? Is there no hope left? No. There is hope, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, there is a silver lining to every cloud.

In the first reading, we see a vision of a confrontation between two parties. We have the woman in labour, which symbolises powerlessness and weakness. We have the fearsome dragon towering over the woman. It appears as if dragon cannot be stopped. But God intervenes. God saves the woman and she brings a child into this world, a child who will rule the universe. At the moment when all appeared to be lost, when certain defeat was imminent, God gives victory to the weak and afflicted.

In the Gospel, Mary was aware of God’s providence and benevolence, and she exclaimed this in the Magnificat, which is a beautiful song of praise to God. She sings of how God will defend and protect the weak and defeat the mighty: “He has shown the power of his arm, he has routed the proud of heart. He has pulled down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things, the rich sent empty away.”

Today, on this Solemnity of the Assumption, we are reminded that the power of God is much greater than any thing, any problem, any difficulty, that we might face. God gives us hope and strength to carry on. He will not abandon us, though at times we may have avoided Him or ignored His voice. God is our providence, our hope. Are we still living in fear or uncertainty? Or have we learned to walk humbly before our loving and caring God?

Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Solemnity

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Many of us would know something about our fathers and we would have grown under their guidance over the years. Some of us, due to one reason or another, may have not known much about our fathers. Saint Joseph, husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary, was one father whom we know very little about. The Gospels do not mention him much, except for the beginning from the time Jesus was conceived till He was lost and found at the Temple when He was twelve.

From the little we can glean about Saint Joseph in today’s Gospel, we read that Saint Joseph was “a man of honour and wanting to spare Mary her publicity, decided to divorce her informally.” However, when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream with a message of reassurance, Joseph “did what the angel of the Lord had told him to do.” These verses already give us some idea of the sort of person Saint Joseph was. Though he was an upright man, he was also submissive to the will of God. Today’s Gospel reminds us too of our role as fathers. Being a father or being called one is not enough; we need to show good example and yet be humble enough to listen to God’s voice. Let us be lovingly macho in our relationship with God and with others, and follow the example of Saint Joseph.