Each day until Divine Mercy Sunday on April 7th, I will email you one thought from that day’s brief reading from Fr. Michael Gaitley’s fine book, 33 Days to Merciful Love. I render full credit for these thoughts, respecting copyright laws, to Fr. Gaitley. Each reading ends with a prayer, which I ask you to pray with me for this intention: the conversion of our parish.
Day Four
Today we look more deeply into the life of the Mother of Jesus during the Holy Family’s 30 years in Nazareth. We call this their “hidden life” because Scripture tells us almost nothing about it: a veil is cast over these 30 years. We perhaps think that Mary knew all about her Son, but John Paul II points out that “even his Mother … lived in intimacy with this mystery [of the divine child] only through faith!”
Fr. Gaitley considers how Mary had to sustain her faith in her Son’s divinity despite evidence to the contrary: “the angel told me he was the everlasting Messiah and King,” Mary thought to herself, “but I gave birth to him in a barn and he’s sleeping in a feeding trough. The angel told me his is eternal and omnipotent, but he’s nursing helplessly at my breast, and the local petty ruler (Herod) is sending police to kill him.” Mary’s life with Jesus was marked by a “heaviness of heart” in the darkness of faith rather than security and certifiable guarantees. In the modern world, especially, we want safety nets, insurance, and signed documents. Mary trusted God’s will with no guarantees.
But when you think of it, despite health insurance, life insurance, car insurance—we also depend entirely on God. We get up, brush our teeth, say our prayers, and go to work, not knowing what will happen that day, or how we will get through it. When the darkness calls our name, we call upon our Mother Mary to help us trust God. We say our rosaries hoping with Mary that we will make it through anything life can throw at us that day. “Blessed are you,” said Mary’s cousin, “who believed God’s promises would be fulfilled.” She walked by faith, not by sight, even while having breakfast each morning with the almighty and eternal God.
Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, fire of mercy. Help me to believe in God and his love for me, even when life seems meaningless, routine, and empty.
Day Four
Today we look more deeply into the life of the Mother of Jesus during the Holy Family’s 30 years in Nazareth. We call this their “hidden life” because Scripture tells us almost nothing about it: a veil is cast over these 30 years. We perhaps think that Mary knew all about her Son, but John Paul II points out that “even his Mother … lived in intimacy with this mystery [of the divine child] only through faith!”
Fr. Gaitley considers how Mary had to sustain her faith in her Son’s divinity despite evidence to the contrary: “the angel told me he was the everlasting Messiah and King,” Mary thought to herself, “but I gave birth to him in a barn and he’s sleeping in a feeding trough. The angel told me his is eternal and omnipotent, but he’s nursing helplessly at my breast, and the local petty ruler (Herod) is sending police to kill him.” Mary’s life with Jesus was marked by a “heaviness of heart” in the darkness of faith rather than security and certifiable guarantees. In the modern world, especially, we want safety nets, insurance, and signed documents. Mary trusted God’s will with no guarantees.
But when you think of it, despite health insurance, life insurance, car insurance—we also depend entirely on God. We get up, brush our teeth, say our prayers, and go to work, not knowing what will happen that day, or how we will get through it. When the darkness calls our name, we call upon our Mother Mary to help us trust God. We say our rosaries hoping with Mary that we will make it through anything life can throw at us that day. “Blessed are you,” said Mary’s cousin, “who believed God’s promises would be fulfilled.” She walked by faith, not by sight, even while having breakfast each morning with the almighty and eternal God.
Prayer
Come, Holy Spirit, fire of mercy. Help me to believe in God and his love for me, even when life seems meaningless, routine, and empty.
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