Mary Kept All in Her Heart

 

Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

~~~ Tobit 12:1, 5-15, 20 ~~~ Psalm Response Tobit 13:2, 6efgh, 7, 8 ~~~ Luke 2:41-51~~~

 

When Mary and Joseph presented their son in the temple,

they were told that swords would pierce the heart of Mary.

Mary kept everything in her heart.

 

I can only imagine the anxiety she must have experienced

when she could not find Jesus.

Being lost in the temple does not sound like a bad thing, but

as a parent it is the unknown that causes fear to rise in your heart.

Mary took her responsibility to care for Jesus very seriously.

She was to look after him until it was time for his public ministry to begin.

 

After three days they found him in the temple,
sitting in the midst of the teachers...

 

Three days is a long time when your child is missing...

three days symbolically connected to Jesus being raised from the dead also after three days.

 

 

Even though they were relieved in finding him safe in the temple

they still needed, as parents,

to express their frustration they had felt.

 

“Son, why have you done this to us?
Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.”

 

This was to be only one of many more times

Mary would experience what had been prophesied to her

years earlier in the temple.

 

Mary had to let go of Jesus so that he could freely be about his Father's work.

Her heart held joys, sorrows, fears, hopes, wishes, desires for her son.

As parents we come to realize that our children are not ours to keep;

we cannot hold on to them for ever.

Mary knew in her heart that Jesus was going to be facing terrible ordeals in his life.

She could not protect him or prevent harm from coming to him.

She had to hold all of this and so much more in her heart.

 

The heart of Mary is filled with love.

A mother's love.

A love that extends out to all of us who love her son.

Mary is a devoted mother who is ready to take our needs

and our anxieties to her son, Jesus.

The Heart of Mary is pure and overflowing with Love.

 

Mary, teach us how to love like you.

Intercede on our behalf, we pray,

 as we come to you and place our trust in your beautiful heart.

Mother Mary, pray for us.