A Mother’s Love
There is something very special about a woman who is expecting a child. There is a certain glow that she has on her face that radiates the gift of new life in the world. Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our Mother has a permanent glow, for she is the Mother of Jesus and she is our mother too! She radiates because she lived a grace-filled life in the Holy Spirit for Mary’s whole life was one of recollection and contemplation. She teaches us, especially within the Advent and Christmas season what it means to live an interior life with God. Mary knew the beautiful gift God had given her in becoming the Mother of God, yet she was perfectly humble and the Scripture says, “pondered all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:19).
Mary received the Holy Spirit most powerfully in her heart and soul and this aided her to be in adoration of God’s wonderful gift to her. She had this great gift of God’s presence within her and when it came to practicing charity, Mary never hesitated! We can just imagine the beautiful understanding and tenderness Mary had towards St. Joseph in those days leading up to Christmas. I like to ask, what would they have spoken about? What sort of things did they do that would have prepared them for the coming of the Messiah? I am sure there was much joy and wonder in the hearts of Mother Mary and St. Joseph. They were about to become parents! I am sure that Mary encouraged St. Joseph that God had also chosen him and that God had given him everything he needed to be a good father. We know that Mary had the greatest love for St. Joseph.
We can also imagine the great joy Mary brought to St. Elizabeth who was pregnant with St. John the Baptist. Elizabeth and Zechariah had waited, and waited and waited for a child. This was very difficult for St. Elizabeth to wait so many years. I am sure she prayed, and prayed and prayed for a child for years. Then, after the waiting God gave St. Elizabeth something even better then she could have ever hoped for; she was to be the mother of the forerunner of Christ. And, not only that, she was visited by the Mother of the One who would carry on His shoulders the sins of the world. We can imagine the joy of Mary and Elizabeth as they exchanged greetings and how blessed Elizabeth was to hear Mary’s song of praise, her Magnificat. Mary would have wanted to give Elizabeth the fullest attention and generous care. I can imagine there was a lot of rejoicing between these two mothers!
Let us take Mary as our example and model of recollection and contemplation. Let us like her never miss an opportunity to practice charity. Let us be grateful for the gifts God has given to us and not keep these quietly for ourselves, but like Mary give thanks to God for them, and let them shine for God’s glory.
