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.

Fifth Day: Lk. 14: 15-24

ACCEPT THE INVITATION

Parable.A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many ... But they all alike began to make excuses. Then the householder in anger said to his servant. 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and blind and lame ... Compel people to come in, that my house may be filled ... None of those who were invited shall taste of my banquet'.

Reflection.Think of our Lady in the light of this parable. Choice, freedom to say 'Yes' or 'No' even to God, whom we believe to have chosen us in Christ, is emphasised in this parable. It is, of course, basic to human life.

We are free to make a mistake, but there is no intrinsic virtue in choosing the wrong way, darkness rather than light, hunger and thirst rather than a banquet.

God, who made us for himself, calls us to himself to such a degree that Jesus, our Lord, has come through a grave to give us the invitation. Only in so far as this registers will we be alive to the invitation and keen to accept it.

Mary, the Mother of Jesus, enjoying now the glory of God in her Son's presence, once lived in faith as we do now. She was told that she carried in her arms 'a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and for the glory of . . . Israel'. (Lk. 2: 32). Her baby was to grow into a man who would illumine the world. She has always lived in that light.

That light was seen in her child by Simeon as 'the Holy Spirit was upon him' - the same Spirit who overshadowed Mary. The Holy Spirit is needed for insight. The Spirit graced Simeon to see what he did in the baby of a poor woman. That same light enabled Mary, too, to see her graceful invitation to the Lord's banquet. If we too want to recognise and accept the invitation to God's kingdom, we should pray to be open always to the Holy Spirit.

Prayer.Lord Jesus, invitations need not be accepted, even invitations to your kingdom. All are invited. Those who accept are blessed. The day may come when for some it may be too late. May I never excuse myself for whatever reason. May your gracious Mother pray for us, poor sinners, to accept your invitation now, and at the hour of our deaths.

Montfort.'The one who finds Mary finds life, that is Jesus Christ, who is the way, the truth and the life. But no one can find Mary, who does not look for her. No one can look for her who does not know her, for no one seeks or desires something unknown' (TD 50).