Some of you may already have an established relationship with the Blessed Mother. Others may admit to struggling to be close to her. Some might be honestly inquiring, “Why do I need to draw near to her when I could speak directly to our Lord Jesus?” Perhaps it is worth reflecting on the truth that the human being most in union with Jesus is His own Mother. She is described as the human tabernacle who carried the child Jesus in her womb.
A genuine relationship with her will surely bring us into intimacy with our Lord. First of all, her resounding “yes” to becoming His Mother was a leap of faith, done in total obedience to the Father’s will. “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Mary’s example and intercession help us open our hearts to the graces we need to give our own fiat to the Father, particularly when we stray away from Him or when we are having a hard time understanding His plan for us.
Secondly, her exhortation during the Wedding at Cana for the servers to do “whatever He tells you” (John 2:5) shows us that even after she gave birth to Jesus, she continued to lead people to Him, the Savior and Divine Healer.
Thirdly, she remained pure in heart and without sin even as she suffered. She may have been immaculately conceived, but she was not exempted from tribulation. She had her share of anxiety when she and St. Joseph discovered that Jesus was not part of the caravan that was headed home from Jerusalem (Luke 2:41-48). As she was witnessing her Son agonizing on the cross, she stood there at its foot, her heart being crushed, uniting with Him in spirit out of love for Him and for the very people causing His crucifixion (John 19:25-27).
Mama Mary understands that our journey is not easy. She is our compassionate Mother. Yes, she is the Mother of God and the Mother of the Church, but each of us can personally call out to her. She is attentive to our uniqueness if only we would allow her to reach out to us. Her being the Mother of the Church means that she can also help us have more peaceful, God-centered relationships with others. As we cry out to her, she can aid in restoring our broken relationships with people we have experienced hurts with. As the Mother of God, she guides us towards Jesus.
Our Blessed Mother will teach us to be humble before God, to be grateful for all His blessings, and to continually receive His love.
