Hope

“Mary then said to the servants, ‘Do whatever Jesus tells you to do.’” (John 2:5).

Wedding at Cana (Michele Damaskinos)

The Mother of God is such an example to us.

She is the Mother of Hope.

Think of how her life looked… 

She came so close to disaster at so many times in her life – firstly as an unwed mother – she could have been stoned to death for adultery.  Then, she had no suitable place to deliver her baby – she was poor and homeless in Bethlehem.  Then, she was a refugee, fleeing the wrath of Herod to Egypt based on a dream of her husband without any further proof than a feeling or intuition.   Then she was a migrant, in a strange land away from her family and friends, with her young baby navigating the requirements of motherhood in the most unusual circumstances in the world.  And then – later – as a widow, she followed her homeless Son around the region and listened to Him preach.  She was with Him until His death.  And even then, she stood silently as He was judged and killed.  She stood quietly without intervention as others betrayed Him.  And she bore the heartbreak of people looking at her Son and judging Him – He who is the PERFECT JUDGE…

Her Earthly life looked like a terrible disaster.

And one thing that we do know for sure is that eternity is a busy place for the Blessed Virgin.  When Christ gave us sinful souls to the Blessed Virgin and when she accepted us as her children (on the Cross), she was committing to raising us.

In all of the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin, she is reported to be serious or sad.  Our Lady of Fatina appeared with thorns in her Heart and her heart was dripping blood.  The children-Saints of Fatima, Lucia, Francesco and Jacinta experienced profound sadness to know that the Blessed Virgin suffered so for sinners.  And they also suffered profoundly to know that Christ – God Himself – suffered through the outrages of sinful souls.

And yet – despite all of the suffering of the Blessed Virgin – both during her life and as a witness to sinful souls – her adopted children, through eternity, the Blessed Virgin remains a symbol of hope.

You see, it is the Blessed Virgin who continues to petition Our Lord just as she did at the Wedding Feast at Canan…

“Three days later Mary, the mother of Jesus, was at a wedding feast in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited and were there.  When the wine was all gone, Mary said to Jesus, ‘They don't have any more wine.’  Jesus replied, ‘Woman, my time hasn't yet come! You must not tell me what to do.’  Mary then said to the servants, ‘Do whatever Jesus tells you to do.’” (John 2:1-5).

And despite everything and despite all appearances, she simply believed…  And she is Mother of Hope…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.