August 11, 2023 Reflection – Mary, the Ark of the Covenant!
Mary, the Ark of the Covenant! August 9, 2023 Dear Family of Mary! Day 4 of our preparation for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary! Pope Benedict XVI wrote: 4. “Mary is the Ark of the Covenant because she welcomed Jesus within her; she welcomed within her the living Word, the whole content of God’s will, of God’s truth; she welcomed within her the One who is the new and eternal Covenant, which culminated in the offering of his Body and his Blood: a body and blood received through Mary. Therefore Christian piety rightly turns to Our Lady in the litanies in her honour, invoking her as Foederis Arca, that is, “the Ark of the Covenant”, the Ark of God’s presence, the Ark of the Covenant of love which God desired to establish with the whole of humanity, in Christ, once and for all.” Our Lady is the Ark! She carried the Son of God in her womb, nourished Him, protected Him, gave Him birth, and raised Him. She faithfully and generously laid her life down for Jesus. And so the Father called her to be at her Son’s side in Heaven, body and soul, to continue her role as Mother. She is there to intercede with Jesus, for all her other children! Us!! She has told us: May 2, 2019 ” Dear children, With a motherly love I am calling you to respond to the great love of my Son, with pure and open hearts, with complete trust. I know the greatness of His love. I carried Him within me, the Host in the heart, the light and the love of the world. My children, also my addressing you is a sign of the love and tenderness of the Heavenly Father – a big smile filled with the love of my Son, a call to eternal life. Out of love, the Blood of my Son was shed for you. That Precious Blood is for your salvation, for eternal life. The Heavenly Father created man for eternal happiness. It is not possible for you who know the love of my Son and who follow Him, to die. Life triumphed; my Son is alive. Therefore, my children, apostles of my love, may prayer show you the way and the means of spreading the love of my Son – prayer in the most exalted form. My children, also when you strive to live the words of my Son, you are praying. When you love the people whom you meet, you are spreading the love of my Son. It is love that opens the doors of Paradise. My children, from the beginning, I prayed for the Church. Therefore, I am also calling you, apostles of my love, to pray for the Church and her servants – for those whom my Son called. Thank you.” Our Lady shares that intimate detail, that overwhelming miracle! She carried the Son of God in her womb. Jesus has her DNA! Our Lady is the Mother of God!! As Pope Benedict said: she welcomed within her the One who is the new and eternal Covenant, which culminated in the offering of his Body and his Blood: a body and blood received through Mary. May we never stop thanking Our Lady for the gift of Her Son!! May we, throughout eternity honor her as the Ark! Let us pray: Mother Mary, your Assumption into Heaven did not take you away from us, but rather opened the way for you to draw close to each one of us and mother us with your incredible love. You are here with us today. We want to draw very close to you, and to be guided by you in everything. Mother please make us presentable, and then present us to your Son, that we might live with Him and You in Heaven forever! In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan www.marytv.tv