Continuing to Ponder God's "Compassion" reflected

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Yesterday I began a thread on “Compassion”, inspired by a quote for Day 3 of the Novena published by USCCB – “9 Days for Life”. Also because of an “old Feast day” on Jan 23 – “The Espousals of Mary and Joseph” – now removed from the liturgical calendar, I pondered the beautiful virtue of Compassion practised by the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

It also reminded me of the book “Mary – The Church at the Source” in which then Cardinal Ratzinger, now Pope Emeritus wrote about ‘Mary in the Paschal Mystery’. Please be patient as I post each day, toward “God’s Compassion reflected in Mary”. May God’s Grace enable us to “see by Faith” and “hear with the ears of our hearts” what God has given in these words of one who ponders Scripture so prayerfully. Below are words taken from the book “Mary - The Church at the Source” pages 75 - 76:

Mary in the Paschal Mystery

…To magnify God: this means, as we were saying, to free ourselves for Him. It signifies the true exodus, man’s exodus from himself, that Maximus the Confessor matchlessly describes in his interpretation of Christ’s Passion as the “transition between the two wills from opposition to union”, a passage leading “through the sacrifice of obedience”.

Luke’s first express mention of the Cross as an aspect of Mary’s grace, prophecy and mysticism, occurs in her encounter with the aged Simeon. The old man says to her in prophetic language: “Behold this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pass through your own soul also)” (Luke 2: 34 - 35)

I am reminded here of Nathan’s prophecy to David after the latter’s fall into sin: “You…have slain [Uriah the Hittite] with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house.” (2 Sam 12:9-10). The sword that hangs over David’s house now strikes Mary’s heart. In the true David, Christ, and in His Mother, the pure Virgin, the curse is suffered through and won…

God willing, I’ll continue tomorrow, with this section of the book. I edited this section by breaking it into paragraphs. In the book it is just one paragraph, but hopefully, fewer words in each paragraph may make it clearer for some readers.

If you have any thoughts after reading this post, and prayerfully asking God for His Grace to share what may help us all to grow in holiness, I’d be grateful to receive your thoughts. I trust others who long to grow in the holiness to which God calls us all, will be grateful too.

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your Faithful; kindle in us, the Fire of Your Love!

 

[JoeShlabotnik]

What the world needs now is love! AMEN

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Joe,

Thanks for your “heart” after reading this post. We are in such a “contentious world” these days. It is a blessing to know you heard something good!

 

[JoeShlabotnik]

We have many people in this world who are passionate about one thing or another, but not enough who exhibit and practice compassion towards others.
We are here for two reasons:

1. To give glory and praise to God.
2. To love and serve one another as brothers and sisters.
   

 

[MariaChristi]

Again, my thanks to you dear brother Joe, for your reply! Yes - and a million times - yes!

God’s Word assures us, in Scripture: “His Love endures forever” (Psalm 136) and Jesus, the Word made Flesh tells us: “This is My Commandment that you love one another as I have loved you.” (Jn 15:12)

Dying on the Cross Jesus told John His Beloved Disciple – and Jesus continues to tell us through John’s Gospel these beautiful words John heard and obeyed:

“Behold your Mother”

Mary is both Mother and Model for the Church. Jesus gave her to all of us that we may see His Will accopmplished perfectly in a purely human person. She is not Divine but rather she is human and miraculously conceved Jesus in her womb by the power of the Holy Spirit. We need to obey Jesus as John did and take Mary, our Mother into our lives!

Mary’s words can become ours: “My soul Magnifies the Lord…” we learn from Mary to give all as Jesus gave all on His Cross. By God’s Grace let us continue to ponder this beautiful virtue of Compassion which is a way to love as Jesus and Mary show us in their lives.

You are well named “Joe” for St. Joseph learned from Mary as Jesus continued to grow in her. St Joseph did not understand everything, any more than she, but both of them loved God and trusted Him as we are called to do. Pope Emeritus by the way was also baptized “Joseph” (Ratzinger)