Posted by The WORD in other words (2018) by Fr Dante Barril SVD – Catholic Trade Manila
Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Today is the feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
I remember when I wore for the first time my new white jacket how a classmate quipped, “Wow, how immaculate!”
The adjective immaculate is synonymous to spotless, impeccable or squeaky-clean. And indeed one can say that the heart of the Blessed Mother must have possessed such attributes. But lest we misunderstand, hers is an “immaculateness”not immune from the dirt and darkness of this “valley of tears.” Not unscarred nor unscathed. To illustrate:
–Today’s gospel reports about her and Joseph’s anxiety about losing their son.
–Of her giving birth, she delivered her baby in a manger! (No woman would dream of giving birth in a manger [Lk 2,1-7]).
–Simeon tells her matter-of-factly how a sword will pierce her heart on account of her son (Lk 2,35).
–Herod the great wanted to kill her son which forced her and her husband to escape to Egypt after giving birth! (Mt 2,13-18)
–Mary stood at the foot of her son’s cross during his crucifixion (I cannot think of anything more painful to a mother’s heart than this [Jn 19,25-27]).
These give us a glimpse of what the heart of Mary had to bear. She definitely was not exempted from pain. Hers was a heart that was hurt, bruised and even shattered but refused to hate and be indifferent and instead chose to love.This is what makes the heart of Mary immaculate.
May we refuse to make our hearts become hearts of stone despite the scars left by pain and sufferings we have endured and will continue to endure. May our agony “in this valley of tears” keep our hearts alive with love, just like the immaculate heart of Mary.
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