Mar. 19 - Wk 3, Day 2 - seeking to know Jesus better

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today’s reading from the Gospel of John shows us Jesus’ encounter with the Woman at the Well of Jacob. How beautiful a picture of Jesus, His beloved disciple John gives to us! We need to listen and learn from God’s Word, as St. Louis de Montfort surely did. One of the reasons, I appreciate this saint’s writings is not only his love for Mary but his knowledge of God’s Word and his living of it. In reading any part of Scripture it is good to read within the context . Today’s Gospel Reading begins with verse 5 of chapter 4, but a verse which people may miss is this short verse 4:

He had to pass through Samaria. (John 4:4)

Commentators point out that Jesus could have gone “around Samaria” so why did John say Jesus “had to” pass “through Samaria”. It was to do the Will of His Father. Jesus knew He had to meet this woman and speak to us through His words to her. At the end of the reading today we understand Jesus’ love for souls better.

It is so important in devotion to Mary that we see our ultimate destination on the journey. St. Louis wrote:

CHAPTER TWO - IN WHAT DEVOTION TO MARY CONSISTS

1. Basic principles of devotion to Mary

1. Having spoken briefly of the necessity of devotion to the Blessed Virgin, I must now explain what this devotion consists in. This I will do with God’s help after I have laid down certain basic truths which throw light on the remarkable and sound devotion which I propose to unfold.

First principle: Christ must be the ultimate end of all devotions

1. Jesus, our Saviour, true God and true man must be the ultimate end of all our other devotions; otherwise they would be false and misleading. He is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and end of everything. “We labour,” says St. Paul, “only to make all men perfect in Jesus Christ.”

For in him alone dwells the entire fullness of the divinity and the complete fullness of grace, virtue and perfection. In him alone we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing; he is the only teacher from whom we must learn; the only Lord on whom we should depend; the only Head to whom we should be united and the only model that we should imitate. He is the only Physician that can heal us; the only Shepherd that can feed us; the only Way that can lead us; the only Truth that we can believe; the only Life that can animate us. He alone is everything to us and he alone can satisfy all our desires.

We are given no other name under heaven by which we can be saved. God has laid no other foundation for our salvation, perfection and glory than Jesus. Every edifice which is not built on that firm rock, is founded upon shifting sands and will certainly fall sooner or later. Every one of the faithful who is not united to him is like a branch broken from the stem of the vine. It falls and withers and is fit only to be burnt. If we live in Jesus and Jesus lives in us, we need not fear damnation. Neither angels in heaven nor men on earth, nor devils in hell, no creature whatever can harm us, for no creature can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Through him, with him and in him, we can do all things and render all honour and glory to the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit; we can make ourselves perfect and be for our neighbour a fragrance of eternal life.

Let us pray, “Lord, that we may know You”; “Lord that we may see You”.

Litany of the Holy Spirit HERE
Ave Maris Stella HERE
Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus HERE

 

[patricius79]

Dear mariaChristi, Thanks.

Marcelino D’Ambrosio talks about evangelizing during Lent. He says here is this Samaritan women who had had five husbands and was living in sin, and had no credentials in theology, yet she was effectively able to witness to others by the grace of Jesus Christ, because of her personal encounter with him, the Healer, who loves her so much.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear mariaChristi, Thanks.

Marcelino D’Ambrosio talks about evangelizing during Lent. He says here is this Samaritan women who had had five husbands and was living in sin, and had no credentials in theology, yet she was effectively able to witness to others by the grace of Jesus Christ, because of her personal encounter with him, the Healer, who loves her so much.

Ah yes, dear brother Pat,

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, we want to give in our evangelizing efforts. Mary is the Star of the New Evangelization, for we find Him with His Mother, as the Magi did!

 

[Magdalena59]

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, we want to give in our evangelizing efforts. Mary is the Star of the New Evangelization, for we find Him with His Mother, as the Magi did!

So very good

 

[MariaChristi]

So very good

Thanks for your reply, Magdalena. Yes, how Good God is in sending Jesus to us through Mary! The human person of Mary is so uniquely united with the God-Man, Jesus her Son, that she becomes our Mother and Model.

When Jesus told us from His Cross, “Behold your Mother,” He knew we would see in her all we are called to be in Him. Perhaps you are familiar with this prayer:

O Jesus, living in Mary, come and live in your servants, in the spirit of holiness, in the fullness of your power, in the perfection of your ways, in the truth of your virtues, in the communion of your mysteries. Rule over every adverse power, in your Spirit, for the glory of the Father. Amen. – by Fr. Jean Jacques Olier, S.S. (1608-1657)

Mary Mother of the Church , help us to know, love, and serve Jesus, better each day.