May is my favorite month. It is Mary’s month. Many years ago I was making a transition in my life and was facing the future without a job or a place to live. I decided to turn these issues over to Mary and trust in her help. Each day of May I said St. Bernard’s prayer, “The Memorare.” Midway through the month I was offered a place to live, and on the last day of the month, at eleven o’clock in the evening, a job came my way. Several times since then I have turned over difficult issues to Mary during this month, said the Memorare daily, and she came through each time.
We truly have a mother who takes care of us. Many take the month of May to consecrate or re-consecrate themselves to Mary. Let’s take advantage of this special month, get close to our Mother, and expect special surprises from her.
One interesting note is that the Church “bookends” this month by starting off, today, with the feast of St. Joseph, the Worker. Then it closes off the month with the feast of Mary’s visitation to Elizabeth on May thirty-first. We are like little children walking down the street with its parents: mom holding one hand, and dad holding the other. Let us walk through May letting Mary hold one hand and Joseph the other. Let us take a “vacation” this month with them.
One of the greatest gifts that Joseph and Mary bring us is that of encouragement. Both led quiet lives. As I understand the gospel stories, both had “questionable reputations” in the eyes of the community—this stemmed from the unusual way that Jesus was conceived. Was he really Joseph’s son? How did Mary become pregnant before she was married? They learned to go about their work relying on the approval of God rather than the kudos of society.
Their great accomplishment in life was creating a God-centered home. There they shared the simple things of life in love and fidelity, as they helped God prepare Jesus for his work in the world. Nothing spectacular or worthy of even a human interest story in the newspaper. Our vacation “resort” will be at their home.
One of the readings suggested by the Church today is from the letter to the Colossians (Colossians 3:14-17, 23-24). The line that stands out for me is,
“Whatever you do, do from the heart, as for the Lord and not for others.”
It wasn’t the greatness of their work that characterized Joseph and Mary, it was the disposition of their heart. They did even the smallest things in life from their heart—out of love for God—and to please him rather than pleasing others.
If we were able to share in this grace and do even the routine, boring tasks of life with all our hearts, and work as though Jesus is our master and work partner, think of how happy we would be. Every moment in life would be rich with love and rich with significance. With Jesus at the center, our little things become big things in the eyes of God. Doing dishes can even become a “vacation.”
Excerpts from Psalm 90 are also chosen to help us reflect on St. Joseph today.
“Teach us to count our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart” (v. 12).
Filled with the Holy Spirit, we have the power to live as Mary and Joseph did. We can make every day count—every hour count. All we do has the potential of being an act of worship—a love gift to God. Working “as for the Lord” gives meaning to all we do, and helps, in ways we do not understand, build up His kingdom on earth.
“Fill us at daybreak with your mercy, that all our days we may sing for joy” (vs.14).
As our cups are filled with coffee in the morning, let our hearts to be filled with mercy. God longs to pour out mercy, yet so few are interested in receiving it. When we turn to him and ask for more mercy, his joy begins to fill our hearts. We begin to find the secret of happiness and inner peace that Mary and Joseph experienced during those many quiet years in Nazareth. Vacation takes place.
So, today, as we begin the month of May—as we let Joseph and Mary take hold of our hands—let us learn from them how to live. Let us receive, through their intercession, new meaning for our lives and the gift of encouragement to sustain us during our present circumstances in life. Let us take a vacation with them.
“Come Holy Spirit, help us to make this a month of grace and renewed life.”
“Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored they help or sought thy intercession was left unaided.”
“St. Joseph, patron of workers, pray for us.”
