Yes, I hear the whisperings of many:
“Terror on every side!
Denounce! let us denounce him!”
All those who were my friends
are on the watch for any misstep of mine.
“Perhaps he can be tricked; then we will prevail,
and take our revenge on him.
My Mother was born March 31st, 1910 and today is her Heavenly Birthday. She was devote all her life and was known for her giving and loving heart.
Thinking of my mom during the readings for today, it brought to mind the sorrow of the Blessed Virgin. She must have known that there were forces at bay who wanted to kill her son. John 10: 31-33 The Jews again picked up rocks to stone him. Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of these are you trying to stone me?” The Jews answered him, “We are not stoning you for a good work but for blasphemy. You, a man, are making yourself God.”
A mother always worries about her children. Mary didn’t have to worry about her son making himself God. He is God. This was not immediately clear to the world but was proven on Easter Sunday. Mary is our mother too. My wife, Anna, and I recently watched the 1952 version of the Story of Our Lady of Fatima. In one of the apparitions, Mary warned her children in 1917 about the wars and destruction brought on by the Russia and how we must pray for Russia’s conversion. Hollywood’s version of the story does not do it justice. The message is timeless in the light of the events of the last year in the Ukraine. My Rosary every morning is for peace and the conversion of Russia
At the foot of the cross Mary became our mother. She must have worried about the threats to Jesus’s life two days before His triumphal entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Luke 2:34-35 Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Simeon’s prediction will become a reality and a heartbreak for Mary in the next week.
The things that are not written in scripture and the human emotions of the characters are some of the things that stand out to me. How did Jesus feel about the coming week? How did Mary feel? How does Mary feel about us, her children? Like any parent Mary sees us make wrong choices and follow other “gods”. Mary’s urging is for us, her children, to follow her son, Jesus.
I see my children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews make in my mind the wrong choices in their spiritual life and moral lives. All I can do is pray. I am not their judge. Mary is doing the same thing for us.
We may have destruction on all sides of us, but we have a heavenly advocate. We need to honor her and follow her son. When Mary makes an appearance on earth, she gives us a message. We need to follow and listen to our mother. As the next week unfolds for us scripturally, we need to think of her trauma as well as that of Jesus.
Listen to your Mother!
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray for the conversion of Russia and the salvation of both the Russian and Ukrainian people.
