Reflection: Mary's Magnificat

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. The Almighty has done great things for me and Holy is His Name. Luke 1:46-49

As you prepare your hearts for the coming of the Baby Jesus, call upon Mary in all the difficulties you may be experiencing. Ask her to comfort you, to protect your loved ones and to draw you close to the Baby Jesus. As you kneel at the crib, gaze at Him in wonder. He gazes at you with great love. You are His beloved child. Open your heart now and let the Baby Jesus enter. Invite Him in. Let Him shine His light and love upon you.

"Mary will comfort you in your discouragements, solace you in your fatigues, raise you after your falls, reward you for your successes. She will show you her Son, your God and your all. When your spirit within you is excited, or relaxed, or depressed, when it loses its balance, when it is restless and wayward, when it is sick of what it has, and hankers after what it has not, when your eye is solicited with evil and your mortal frame trembles under the shadow of the Tempter, what will bring you to yourselves, to peace and to health, but the cool breath of the Immaculate and the fragrance of the Rose of Sharon." Saint John Henry Newman

I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valley. As a lily among thorns, so is my beloved among women. As an apple tree among the trees of the woods, so is my lover among men. I delight to rest in his shadow, and his fruit is sweet to my mouth. He brings me into the banquet hall and his emblem over me is love. Strengthen me with raisin cakes, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love. His left hand is under my head and his right arm embraces me. Song of Solomon 2:1-6

How can we do as Mary did when we are faced with something difficult to understand? 

We can turn to the Lord as she did. We can be silent and ask Him to stay near us. It is in the quiet, the silence, that the Lord will come to us. Even if we never understand, we will be at peace if we do as Mary did. God looked with favor upon Mary.  Mary did not always understand to the mysteries of God but she pondered, reflected and kept them in her heart. Mary led a life of contemplation. This is the lesson she gives us. Throughout Mary's life of contemplation, she had a desire to proclaim the greatness of of the Lord.

As we approach Christmas Day, let us ask Mary to bring us to the crib. Let us gaze at the Baby Jesus and ask Him to give us a heart like Mary, a heart overflowing with love, a heart of contemplation and a heart that ponders all things as she did, with strength, courage and complete trust in God.  

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. Luke 1:46