In honor of the celebration of Mary’s Assumption, August 15th, where her incorruptible body and soul flew to Heaven, here are 3 ways she helps me and can help all of us.
1. Mary’s Attitude Inspires Our Trust in God
When the archangel Gabriel showed up on a mission from Heaven, and sent the message from God: You will be Jesus’ Mother, Mary did not even hesitate to agree to the gigantic, lifelong, quite arduous task ahead of her. She simply trusted. “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to your word.” Luke 1:38
In modern parlance, Mary essentially replied, “Wow Archangel Gabriel. What does God want me to do? That sounds really crazy and scary. Yeah, okay, sure.”
I can only aspire to this level of total, blind trust! I remember when I got married, I was so afraid of pregnancy and childbirth, I fearfully said to my husband, “Let’s adopt. I don’t think I can go through with it!”
When I was reading my daily devotional, I came across a compelling verse. It helped me remember who is in control of my life and journey. God loves to smack us upside the head (in a good way, of course)! Today’s reading was Romans 11:33-36. “Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments. Who has known the mind of the Lord? Who has been His counselor?” Indeed.
I love to tell God what to do. He just shakes His head, most likely saying, “My child, QUIT ADVISING ME! Let Go and Let God. Ever heard of it?” Yep, God has a snarky side, especially when I’m not listening. Good for Him for figuring out how to get through to stubborn me.
When I get anxious about circumstances in my life, I try to ask for Blessed Mother’s intercession with God, on my behalf. She is my role model of TRUST. She comforts me, along with her amazing son, Jesus.
My mother, for a few years, received caregiving from my sister. My sister is quite talented and smart, but for some odd reason, Mom and my sister disagreed a lot. Mom told me that she asked Blessed Mother to intercede with God, to fix this. They got along famously! Mother Mary works tirelessly for us, approaching God’s throne, as Queen, to add to our pleas for assistance!
2. Mary is A High Standard to Emulate
When someone sets the bar high, our efforts toward it can’t help but improve us as humans! There were times in the Bible when Mary and Joseph did not understand what Jesus was saying. They followed His will anyway. When Jesus was lost in the Temple for three days, Mary and Joseph freaked out. When they finally found Him, they probably grabbed Him tearfully. “My child, why have you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you?” Luke 2:48 He just casually replied, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be busy with my Father’s affairs?” Luke 2:49
During the Wedding at Cana, when the celebratory spirits ran out, Mary told Jesus, “They have no wine.” John 2:3,4. Jesus cryptically answered, “Woman, why turn to me? My hour has not come yet.” John 2:4 I’m sure our Blessed Mother wondered what on Earth He meant! Plus, who calls their mother, “Woman”! But the backdrop of this confusing moment was Mary’s tenacious ability to go with the flow, no matter what. A standard I will strive to reach until my dying day.
3. Mary Has Appeared On Earth With A Message!
Mary has shown up around the Earth, and the visitations have been scientifically proven to be real. Mary is sending a message that we must turn back to the Lord! Our world is in danger because of indifference to God. We must never forget Him; we must place Him in the center of our lives. We must believe that He is the most important!
Blessed Mother promised St. Bernadette Soubirous, visionary at Lourdes, “the happiness of the other world” upon her death. Bernadette, as a child, worked to bring Jesus to her town, at Mary’s bidding. St. Bernadette’s body is incorruptible in a glass reliquary in Nevers. Today, St. Bernadette is the patron saint of the sickly. Millions of pilgrims have traveled to Lourdes to bathe in the miraculous water and cure their ills, both physical and emotional.
In Tepeyac, Mexico City, Juan Diego saw Queen Mary. She asked him to strive to have a church built there. It seemed impossible to him, with the meager resources he had. He had to approach the powers-that-be, who were the only ones with means to do such a thing. Mary armed Juan with gorgeous red roses, which do not bloom in the winter, so he could prove he had seen her. The bigwigs were gobsmacked. The church was built.
My brother, Tom, experienced two miracles when he visited Medjugorje, after the reports of Marian visions there. He and his fellow tourists took pictures of a special blank wall, and when developed, they became Mary’s face! Later, when a group was saying the Rosary, the cheap metal chains between their beads, on every single Rosary, became gold!
Blessed Mary is a strong entity who wants to be mother to all of us. She so wants to help us, and loves when we ponder her and appreciate her. Through her steadfast trust in God, her high standard of holiness and her appearances around the world, she clearly is trying to get our attention. Our world needs her and her powerful son, Jesus, every single moment!
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