Live Greater Word to Your Mom

May 13, 2008

I just recently heard a talk where a priest told a story about an interaction he had with Blessed Theresa of Calcutta. During a conversation over lunch, he simply asked her about how she was able to start the Missionaries of Charity. She humbly replied back to his question by simply saying, “Mary pleaded for the poor and Jesus gave her the grace I needed to begin this work of love.”  Her response had a profound impact in his life and priesthood and I couldn’t help but go away from the story and conversation thinking about it as well. With great joy, the priest exclaimed to the audience I was in that every grace and blessing in our lives first comes from Mary! To think about this reality, that every gift that we have in our lives we have received because Mary pleaded for us to her Son. To understand this and take it in is simply overwhelming!

 

The following day, after I had heard the story, I took it to prayer.  That day was Mother’s Day. How fitting right? May the Lord be abundantly praised for my mom and her motherhood and also the motherhood of Mary the Mother of Jesus.

 

In some way or another we all experience “mom.” Our earthly mothers are the ones that feed us, clean up after us, give us an allowance, drive us to soccer practice, pick us up again, and sleep on the couch until we are home by curfew. They nurture us, scold us, wipe our tears, challenge us, love us and love us some more. And the quicker we realize they are not perfect the better off things will be. Regardless of fights, misunderstandings, disappointments, moments of struggle or moments of joy, they are mom, and nothing will ever change that.

 

Like mom on earth, in a more perfect way, mom in Heaven is ever present and there to console, encourage, and gently show us the way. Mary was the last gift that Jesus gave to us before he died upon the cross for us. She now sits with him in Heaven and pleads for us as her children before the divine throne of her son. Since Jesus came to earth through Mary, His grace comes the same way. If we only truly embraced this, how happy it would make Jesus and Mary! If we truly know how to be true sons and daughters of Jesus through Mary, how our spiritual lives would change and we would be able to dive into the divine life of Heaven.   

 

A few days after Mother’s Day, let us turn to Mary our Mother for everything. Let her give us all that we need to be faithful and happy. Let us give her the sick, the lowly, discouraged, stressed, and hopeless. Let us give her our hopes, dreams, and all that we long to be. Let us give her everything!

 

Mary pleaded for the poor and Jesus gave her the grace I needed to begin this work of love. 

 

To my mom of earth, I love you.

 

To my mom in heaven, I love you and give you everything.

 

May the Lord be praised for His Mom and all moms…

 

In Jesus and Mary,

 

Rusty

 

Question of the Week: What does your mom mean to you, the one on earth or in Heaven?