Preparation for Total Consecration

WEEK 3:
KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LADY

Our Lady is a superb person to help us come alive to what it means to be baptised. Graced as she is by the Holy Spirit, always reflecting the glory of God on the face of Christ, her authentic living of the Gospel can only help us too if we open ourselves to what she now sees.

First Day: Lk. 8: 5-8

OPEN TO THE WORLD

Parable.A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fill along the path and was trodden underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on rock; and as it grew up it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell in good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold.

Reflection.Think of our Lady in the light of that parable. The Gospel is speaking of the need for and the results of receiving the word of God. Where the soil is good and receptive, the seed of the word of God can take root and produce a superb harvest.

This is Mary, the Mother of Jesus, as the Gospels reveal her. The Word of God became flesh in her person. In response to the word of God her whole being was welcoming and receptive - 'I am the Lord's slave; let it be to me according to your word' (Lk. 1:38).

As has been said, she first received the Word into her reflective heart before he took flesh in her womb, her arms, her home and her life. Now she is with him in glory. The harvest of the Word reaped through her was literally to bring into this world a new creation in Christ.

As baptised Christians, we have the great fortune to be, with Mary, one person in Christ. With her as part of this new creation (cf. 2 Cor.5), we are to live now no longer for ourselves but for our Lord, who died and rose for us. This will only happen in so far as we are aware of and open to the presence of our risen Lord.

The parable outlines the hazards of receiving the word of God. We may be shallow, lacking any depth. Thorns of other interests can crowd out and choke the word. Most of us have lived long enough to know that much of that is true of us. Does our experience of our Lady show us how she can help?

Prayer.Lord Jesus, on earth you sowed your word of invitation into your kingdom in the hearts of all who would listen. Not all were willing to receive what you had to say, so your word died in them. Your Mother was graced to open her heart, and so the Word really became flesh through her.

May the receptive heart of your Mother help prepare mine to receive all you would want to say to me.

Montfort.'The soul of Mary will he communicated to you to glorify the Lord. Her spirit will take the place of yours to rejoice in God, her Saviour' (TD 217).