This morning, when I should have been studying for my Biology test, I ended up writing instead. I was really excited about my new journal, it's beautiful weather outside, and I just happened to have said journal handy in my backpack. Besides, what I do know about Biology tells me that I won't physically die from lack of test preparation...so we're good, right? As I was journaling (at a table complete with cheesy jazz background music and the glorious smell of coffee, I might add!), I began to think about my crazy weekend. It was a pretty easy-going one for me, but for others I know it was a fight all the way.
As easy as it's been to see Christ where I am lately, I know that his work in the lives of my brothers and sisters hasn't been so obvious. I have a lot of friends and family who seem to be struggling with various battles lately, and it drives me absolutely crazy that I can't do more to help them. It makes my heart ache to hear what they're going through-deaths in friends and family, relationship struggles, school problems, and all sorts of spiritual warfare. I'm continually trying to think of ways to offer up prayer and sacrifice for them, and I'm ready to fight with them. But I still wish I could do more solid, visible things to help them. After thinking about all of this, here's what the Holy Spirit decided to show me:
If our heart aches this much watching those around us suffer, how much more did Mary's heart burn when watching her son carry his cross?
If it hurts us so much to watch the ones we love suffer, I can't even imagine what she felt. Our friends and family, no matter how great they are, are sinners all the same. They struggle, but they also turn themselves away from God sometimes. Christ was spotless. He never turned away from his father, never struggled with disobedience, never once complained about carrying all of our sins on Calvary. He was (is) without blemish, without hatred, love without reservation. Can you imagine meeting your sinless son on his way to be crucified, silently watching that undeserved suffering? There's no way to comprehend it.
Well, friends, I'm going to let you in on a little secret: I'm pretty sure the reason I'm still sane (which I realize is a debatable point) is because of Mary's intercession over the last couple of years. Whether it was despair, anger, doubt, confusion, or just about anything else I couldn't handle on my own, her intercession played a major role in getting me out of it and seeing Christ amidst it all. She knows what it's like to watch those around us suffer-in fact, she knows better than any of us ever will.
Ask the Blessed Mother to pray for you and those you love. It must bring her great joy to help her sons and daughters from her seat in Heaven. She's ready and waiting to help....all you have to do is ask.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!
