St. John The Apostle
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Today is the feast of St. John the Apostle
In the Gospel he wrote he refers to himself as the “disciple whom Jesus loved.” By this he wants us, as disciples of Jesus to see ourselves in his place – we are all the disciples whom Jesus loves.
My favorite scene from his life is Calvary. Jesus looks down from the cross and seeing Mary his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near, Jesus said to his mother “Woman, this is your son.” Then to the disciple, “This is your mother.”
Before the world began God said, “Let there be light” and the universe sprang into existence. At the Last Supper God said, “This is my body” and mere bread became God in the Eucharist. From the Cross God said, “This is your mother.” And from that moment Mary became not only the mother of St. John the Apostle but the spiritual mother of every person in the world.
The question for us is, do you really live as if Mary is your mother. Do you depend on her like a little child in her care?
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The very next line in this scene, verse 27 is the most important
“And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home.”
The original Greek text ends with “eis ta idia” which suggests a much deeper meaning than making a place for her in his home. The beloved disciple took Mary not just into his physical home but into his interior life.[1]
The beloved disciple made a place for Mary in his soul, he took her into every part of his life so that she could form him to be like Jesus.
Jesus offers us the gift of Mary’s Maternal Care. We have the choice to accept or ignore the gift.
By consecration to Mary we welcome Mary into the home of our soul to form us to be like Jesus.
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Jesus is our model
To save us Jesus became Mary’s little son. He lived in her presence and depended entirely upon her.
the first words of Jesus each morning would have been “Mama.”
Of course, Joseph was involved and he was a great dad. But even he couldn’t take the place of a mother for a small child. I was very involved with the care of our children, however, upon waking their first words were always “Mama”! In fact my wife would say with exasperation, “Why don’t they ask for dadda?”
My kids are grown so it’s amazing to watch how my little grandsons Cormac and Elliot depend on with my daughter Sara for everything: physical and emotional care, protection – especially from me – grandfathers allow forbidden things. Mother’s teach their children how to respond emotionally, how to think about things, how to behave. They teach them how to eat, and talk and walk and interact with others. They teach them how to pray.
When my grandsons venture onto a new playground or new group of kids, they look back over one shoulder to make sure mom sees or to a least know she is there to catch them when they fall.
This is how Jesus was with Mary.
He told us that if we want to enter the Kingdom we must become a little child, a little child of God the Father and Mary our Mother.
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Devotion to Mary means to imitate Jesus as a little child growing up under the care of Mary and to imitate John who welcomed Mary into his everything of his life.
The first step is to invite Mary into the home of our soul by consecrating oneself to her. This will we do together on January 1st, the Feast of Mary, Mother of God.
Then live an interior dependence on Mary. We can grow in this interior dependence by becoming more and more aware of the presence of Mary. Every time you see a medal, a picture or icon, a statue, or a Rosary, it is a reminder, “Ah, Mother, I remember, you are here.” St. Louis De Montfort says we can become permanently aware of her presence.
Speak with your Mother. Say to her: “Mary, lead me, guide me. Take control of this situation. I do not know what to think, or feel or say or do. Dispose me to know and do want Jesus wants.”
Give her time to respond:
Pay attention to the interior way she prompts you.
Do your best to put her promptings into action without overanalyzing or worrying.
A mother comes quickly to the aid of her child trying to do what his mother wants.
Especially entrust to Mary all that you cannot fix or solve or change.
If you practice this, you will be amazed at how Mary will organize your day to help you accomplish the will of God. Even more, she will help you become like Jesus.
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We must go forward in an imperfect fumbling and bumbling sort of way.
As we do our lives tend to get tied up in all kinds of knots we can’t undo. Think of a little kid trying to tie their shoe and makes a big knot and then brings it to his mother to untie.
Well, I make all kinds of knots: I am imprudent and rash; I let my feelings get the best of me; I say and do things that make a mess. And once they are said and done we can’t take them back. We make knots.
Mary is the Undoer of Knots. Bring to her all the messes you’ve made, all that you can’t fix or undo. She will untie them.
And Mary can transform the way we think, feel and act.
Invite Mary to come into your soul – into your thinking, feeling and choosing. Give these unconditionally to her and she will set them straight.
In the Secret of Mary, Montfort writes:
“To sum up” writes Montfort “Mary becomes all things for the soul that wishes to serve Jesus Christ. She enlightens his mind with her pure faith. She deepens his heart with her humility. She enlarges and inflames his heart with her charity, makes it pure with her purity, makes it noble and great through her motherly care.”
“…towards the end of time and perhaps sooner than we expect, God will raise up great men filled with the Holy Spirit and imbued with the Spirit of Mary. Through them Mary. Queen most powerful, will work great wonders in the world, destroying sin and setting up the kingdom of Jesus her Son upon the ruins of the corrupt kingdom of world. These holy men will accomplish this by means of true devotion to Mary.” The Secret of Mary 57, 59
[1] Ignace de la Potterie, Mary in the Mystery of the Covenant, Alba House, 1992, P.225-228