Saturday 16 June
(Memorial) Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary • Luke 2:41-51
Yesterday we contemplated Jesus’ Sacred Heart; today we meditate upon Mary’s Immaculate Heart. We can deduce from these two feast days that to be a Christian is to have a big heart. But don’t worry if you feel that you are not a big-hearted Christian: be assured that God wants to create in each of us a big heart.
St John Eudes had a big heart. His priestly ministry was lived out under the difficulties and trials of caring for the victims of the plague and helping rescue women trapped in destitution and prostitution. Perhaps the secret to his love for the poor and downtrodden was his devotion to Mary the Mother of God. He wrote a devotional commentary on Mary, from which developed over time a devotion to her Immaculate Heart.
Mary’s heart was first and foremost focused on her Son. All generations have called Mary blessed because of her supreme and total love for Jesus. We honour Mary and pray for her intercession and help, but most of all we pray that we may share in her love for Jesus.
The one thing we mustn’t do with Mary is assume that she had it easy. That because she was so holy, she had no struggles or difficulties. We know that a sword pierced her heart and she was deeply troubled by the terrible way the Lord was treated during his life on earth. The Irish playwright Oscar Wilde said, ‘How else but through a broken heart may the Lord Christ enter in?’ Perhaps this was true of Mary – her Immaculate Heart was a broken heart but raised up by the grace of Almighty God. Mary knew the blind panic that can overwhelm a parent on losing a child (Luke 2:45-48). She once intervened and asked that Jesus do something which he clearly was not ready to do (John 2:4). Mary’s trial reached its climax at the foot of the cross.
Our love too is tested and purified through suffering and trial. Mary is our Mother in faith and her Immaculate Heart burns in love for us and all who are far away from God.
‘Father of mercies and God of all consolation, you gave us the loving heart of your own beloved Son, because of the boundless love by which you have loved us, which no tongue can describe. May we render to you a love that is perfect with a heart made one with yours.’ (St John Eudes)
1 Kings 19:19-21 • Psalm 15(16):1-2, 5, 7-10
Luke 2:41-51
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