February 6, 2019
St. Paul Miki and Companions
Dear Family of Mary!
“But, unfortunately, many of my children do not want to hear me; many of my children are of two minds. And I-I always, in time and beyond time, magnified the Lord for all that He has done in me and through me…” (February 2, 2019)
Our Lady knows that if ever there was a time to be single minded, it is now. The devil is out to destroy the weak, those who waver, those who don’t have a strong faith and a firm resolve to follow the Lord. She knows that having two minds is dangerous. It makes us vulnerable.
And so, she wants to show us a better way. It is the way of gratitude. Gratitude gives us the right perspective on life. It sets us firmly in the correct relationship with God. We see things in the light of His love for us and we become single-minded in His service. Gratitude gives us a window into the Truth.
When she was just a young woman, having newly conceived our Savior, Our Lady visited Elizabeth, her cousin. During that visit, Mary sang her song of praise to God, her Magnificat. This was her song of thanks and praise to God for all His mighty deeds of love for her and for all humankind. Our Lady knew how to give thanks to the Lord. She knew why to give thanks to the Lord. And she knew when to give thanks to the Lord.
She knew how to give thanks! She sang a song of praise to God that came from the depths of her heart. She sang it loud and clear to her cousin, Elizabeth. Mary proclaimed the greatness of God because she comprehended it! She understood what it means to be a creature. And she knew her Creator loved her.
She knew why to give thanks to the Lord. She recognized that her entire being came from God and that nothing was outside of His control. Our Lady knew who she was, because she knew who God was! God was her loving Father.
Mary knew when to give thanks! As soon as Elizabeth greeted her and recognized by the power of the Holy Spirit that Mary was the Mother of God, Our Lady sang her Magnificat. Why? Because she did not want any praise for herself. She knew that all praise was rightly for God the Father who had done it all! Our Lady always points to God!
And so, she sang:
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
My spirit rejoices in God my Savior
For he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
The Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.
He has shown the strength of His arm,
He has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the Mighty from their thrones,
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he has remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children forever. (Luke 1: 46-55)
Amen! Amen!
In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!
Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2019
