HOMILY, FRIDAY, 11TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
MEMORIAL, IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY.
2 Chronicles 24: 17-25, Luke 2:41-51.
When we mention “The two Hearts of love”, we are making reference to the hearts of Jesus and Mary.
The word “Immaculate” according to Oxford Advance Learner’s Dictionary means, “Extremely clean and tidy”. It takes a clean vessel to bring into the world the Divine Saviour.
One needs an Immaculate heart to dine with God. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matthew 5: 8. To weather the storm in this world, one needs a clean heart. This is a kind of heart that is wrapped in love. It is a heart that is not malicious or prejudiced. It has no plan of evil for others. It forgives. This kind of heart is well described in the 13 chapter of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.
However, it is often nauseating to suffer in the hands of the one we love. But if our love is pure and not blinded, we would be able to read and understand the brain behind the actions of the loved one. Pure love helps us to understand others. When we reach out to others with the eyes of love, we could see through them and understand their ways.
Mary loved God. That was why she was able to understand and accommodate all the sorrows she suffered because of Jesus. She saw beyond the behaviours of the child Jesus when she found him in the temple after the three days search. Luke 2:41-51
It is a heart that judges the other not by a single encounter but objectively, taking into consideration all the variables. An immaculate heart checks through the factors that form the loved one(s) and it’s able to make meaning from whatever pain that comes from the encounters with them. Mary knew the stuff from which her son was made. That was why she was not discouraged at the marriage at Cana when Jesus asked, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.” She didn’t not feel bad. She simply said, “Do whatever he tells you.” Luke 2:4-5.
An immaculate heart understands the end from the beginning. Mary endured the pain of seeing her dying even to the foot of the cross. She has heard it from the beginning all it takes to be the mother of Jesus. Simeon told her, “Behold, this is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted, (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thought of many hearts be revealed.” Luke 2:34-35. Instead of being disturbed over her experiences with Jesus, she would simply choose to ponder over them in her heart.
Let us pray to Mary, to intercede for us that we emulate her way of loving. Let us long for a clean heart so that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.
PRAYER
O Blessed Mother, intercede for me that I may get something of you. I need a heart that understands the ways of God. Help me to understand the will of your Son Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
