Thursday, January 1, 2015

Saved/Forwarded (Mary Mother of God, 2015-01-01)

2015 January 1 / Mary Mother of God   • Numbers 6:22-27  • Psalm  67 • Galatians 4:4-7 • Luke 2:16-21 •

[__01__]    In the Gospel we have just read, the MESSAGE of our Savior’s birth was being SAVED by at least one person, being SAVED, KEPT, for current reflection and future reference.

Meanwhile, the message of our Savior’s birth was being FORWARDED by others.

If you and I were to receive important messages, message of significance, we would probably want to STORE, … ARCHIVE, them for future reference.

Nevertheless, we would also read them first, we would endeavor to understand them. 

[__02__]   There are certainly messages we are taught not to save, not to forward, not even to read, in case [lest] some damage could be wrought by a virus or some harm arriving in an electronic message.

We are taught to disregard and delete certain messages we receive in the mail, or even in person.

Not every message would be worthy of being saved …and of these messages … only a small percentage, a fraction, would be worthy of being forwarded. 

[__03__]   It seems noteworthy that in the Gospel we have just read that there is at least one individual inclined to save – for future reference – the message of our Savior’s birth. This is the Blessed Virgin Mary.

We read that … “Mary kept all these things [reflecting] pondering them in her heart.”  (Luke 2:19)

Our Lady, our Blessed Mother,  was saving the message.

[__04__]    On the other hand, we have the shepherds of Bethlehem were very eager to tell it on the mountain and all who heard them were amazed.

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.” (Luke 2:16-18)

 [__05__]   The shepherds are forwarding the message, publicizing the Good News.

It is, of course, consistent with Mary’s humility, piety, simplicity that she would not be the one – right now – to forward the message.

Later, Mary would be the sender and speaker, in word and action.

Later, at the wedding at Cana in Galilee, Mary spoke up at the moment of the discovery of the lack – the scarcity – of the wine.

Mary said authoritatively of Jesus and his mission and credibility, “do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5)
At the foot of the cross, on Calvary, Mary will wait with our suffering Savior, testifying to his mission, being among the few willing to be seen and heard as a witness in Jerusalem. By her presence, Mary was forwarding the message of our salvation.

All of these events would come later…. After this birth and birth announcement in Bethlehem.

[__09__]   For now, in this episode, Mary gave us an example of reflection, prayer.

Mary pondered the message of Jesus, about whom others forward their affirmation, forward their Gloria in Excelsis Deo, forward their Glory to God in the Highest.

[__10.01__]   Is there not a spiritual benefit to this reflection, this restraint displayed by Mary?

Do we not, at times, let others do the talking, the forwarding?

For example, as parents, mothers, fathers or family members, we may have significant news to share about another member of the family. This news could be either sorrowful or joyful.

In either case, as a parent or family member, we would need to read the message first ourselves, save it..perhaps share it with no one or only a very small intimate group in order that we would understand it.
We would do all these things before we forward the message.

[__10.02__]   On the other hand, it’s also true that we can understand our own calling as a parent, mother, father, family member, if we were to listen carefully – prudently – even critically – to what others say about our children, our families.

This does not mean that every statement has equal credibility.  Nevertheless, our own treasure of faith can grow by our understanding of the words and ideas of others.

I suggest this because St. Ambrose of Milan wrote that the faith of the Blessed Virgin Mary was enriched, was confirmed by the message forwarded by the shepherds and heard – about Jesus - in the Bethlehem neighborhood.[1]

[__11__]   Can we not also discover our calling – our vocation – if we were to listen prudently, prayerfully, to what others are saying?

If we keep them, ponder them in our heart and with God’s grace determine when and how to make our reply known, to forward the message ourselves, whether in word or action.

[__fin__]


[1] St. Ambrose of Milan, “V. 19 Mary ..pondered”, page 108 of Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers, Christmas Day, Mass of the Aurora, Catena Aurea

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