I was at a
retreat this summer and the theme was about Blessed Mother and her role in our
life. The priest drew our attention to the words of Jesus Christ while on the
Cross, “Behold, your mother” (Jn 19:27). He mentioned how these words have the
potential to be understood deeper and deeper every time we hear them. If we
seek, then we shall find the deeper meaning.
Imitation
of Mary
This same
priest gave one of the most helpful analogies I have heard shared to help
understand what entrustment to Mary means. He said to imagine a mother with two
children. The first child is very brave, while the second one is not. Both children watch as their mother enters a
dark room. The brave child sees her
enter and thinks, “Since my mother can do it, then I can do it too.” That child
desires to and is able to follow the example of the mother, and enter the dark
room. This is the example of imitating
Mary.
Communion
with Mary
Meanwhile,
the other child thinks, “Yes, I saw my mother enter that dark room, but I am
too afraid to go by myself. I will
only be able to go in if my mother is present with me.” This child desires to
enter the dark room, since his mother is there, but cannot follow her on his
own. He needs the awareness of the presence of his mother to enter. He prefers
to say “WE (mom and I) are going into the room together.” This is the example
of entrustment to Mary or, another way to say it, communion of life with Christ
through Mary.
The above analogy speaks
volumes to me. I am definitely the cowardly child who wants/needs Blessed
Mother’s presence in my life! Sometimes, I am not even brave enough to desire to follow her. That is why I beg
for the graces that She will carry me. I like to envision myself as a child on
her back, in a papoose sleeping while She carries me through all the adventures
of my days. Therefore, I can say “WE
(Blessed Mother and I) are together caring for my children, washing the dishes,
reading Facebook posts, going to Holy Mass, receiving the Holy Eucharist, talking
to my ‘difficult neighbors,’ mourning the loss of my father, loving my husband,
etc., etc. ”
Since being on
that retreat, I have been contemplating the significance of being carried in
the arms of Mary. It is easier to remember that I am carried the more I
remember how truly God and Mary love me. In the example above, the two children
wanted to follow their mother. Why? Because they were convinced of her love!
They beheld their mom and wanted to be with her.
How much
more crucial it is in my life to desire to be with the Blessed Mother! The more I desire this, the more She has been
convincing me that I am loved as I am. The awareness of being loved as I am is
helping me to be more and more grateful for Mary’s presence in my life. It is a
lovely circle of discovering God’s mercy and love.
I’m curious –
for those reading this blog – which child do you relate to most? Please leave a
comment, I’d love to hear from you!
