Mary's "Journeying Faith"

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In the book, Jesus of Nazareth, Vol. 3, The Infancy Narratives, Pope Benedict XVI uses the phrase “journeying faith” in pondering Luke’s Gospel, wherein we hear that “his mother kept all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:51). When Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the temple and He replied to Mary that he must be in His Father’s house, we hear “they did not understand the saying which He spoke to them” (Luke 2: 50). Pope Benedict wrote the following:

… Jesus’ saying is on too lofty a plane for this moment in time. Even Mary’s faith is a “journeying faith” (underlining is mine) , a faith that is repeatedly shrouded in darkness and has to mature by persevering through darkness. Mary does not understand Jesus’ saying, but she keeps it in her heart and allows it gradually to come to maturity there.

Again and again, Jesus words exceed our rational powers. Again and again, they surpass our capacity to understand. The temptation to reduce them, to bend them to our own criteria is understandable. Yet, good exegesis requires of us the humility to leave in tact this loftiness that so often overtaxes us, not to reduce Jesus’ sayings by asking to what extent we can take Him at His word. He takes us completely at our word. Believing means submitting to this loftiness and slowly growing into it…Mary appears not only as the great believer, but as the image of the Church, which keeps God’s word in her heart and passes it on to others…

Mary, Mother of the Word and our Mother, pray for us.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, lend us your heart to ponder and to keep His Word, as you did.
Jesus, we trust in You!

 

[liturgy96]

Mary, Mother of the Eternal Word, help us to grow in faith!

 

[MariaChristi]

Mary, Mother of the Eternal Word, help us to grow in faith!

Dear liturgy96,

Thanks for your prayer – it is one that Mary loves to hear and to intercede for us that our faith may grow more and more mature in Christ.