Much to Ponder

When we rang in 2020 as the New Year, I remember having the distinct feeling in my heart that this would be a hard year. I did not know why at the time, but so far, 2020 is living up to that expectation as life as we know it is being shaken to the core. God only knows what is to come in the remaining six months of this year, so what are we to do?

Perhaps our Blessed Mother can guide us. Living in a time of trepidation and tumult, Mary, the Mother of God, had much to ponder in her heart. To ponder may seem insignificant and inconsequential as we face our own trepidations in these tumultuous times, but Mary shows us the contrary. Our Lady’s deep reflection was much more than a way to pass the time because Mary saw all things—good and bad—in the light of salvation.

The Love of Our Lord

Certainly, Mary’s greatest joy was the coming of her Son, our Savior, and her greatest sorrow was her Son’s crucifixion. Following Jesus Christ, Mary embraced all the joys, the works, and the sorrows with the thoughts of many hearts that were revealed to her. Mary may not have understood all the events that happened during her earthly lifetime, but she knew in the light of salvation the love of God prevails.

We can take comfort in knowing Mary keeps all things in her heart. Mary’s Immaculate Heart is forever united with the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  All that Mary pondered and continues to ponder in her heart is brought together with the sacred love of Our Lord. Through Mary, we see the necessity to ponder, to reflect, to meditate, to pray in good days and bad.

With Mary’s guidance, in our contemplations and prayers we can draw closer to Our Lord and be embraced by His love for humanity that will save us from destruction. With this infinite love, Christ invites us to trust in Him and to follow Him, enabling us to receive God’s grace of the Holy Spirit. Like Mary, with God’s grace we can see all things in the light of salvation and in that light we have our purpose.

Join Together

To ponder and to pray as Mary did and continues to do, we join our hearts with the heart of Our Lord for our own sake and for the sake of one another. In this unity we help in the conversion of those whose hearts may have hardened. Sadly, the trials our nation is facing come as society is growing more secular, more distant from God and His loving graces. Maybe that is why our troubles appear harder to overcome.

We have yet to see the full impact of the life-changing events that are taking place in our day; much of which is hard to understand. There is one certainty—we are witnessing our human frailties and limitations. Relying on our own resources is not enough to provide the healing we need. Truly, we have much to ponder and to pray; may we do so in earnest for the love of God.  Amen.