Hidden

“Mary, teacher of the sacrifice that is hidden and silent! See her, nearly always in the background, co-operating with her Son; she knows, yet says nothing.” (Saint Josemaria, “The Way”, at 509).

Virgin Mary (Magdalena Walulik)

When my children were very young and they hurt themselves they would cry very loudly.

This is clearly an evolutionary adaptation to allow them to be protected by their mother.  After all, if a young child were not able to cry aloud when they were injured, how would their mother or father know that they were in need of assistance?  How would we know that they were in need of protection?  That crying, which is so inconvenient at times means that the parent is alerted to the problem that the child is facing.

Then – as a good parent – I would rush to my injured child and do what I could to console and protect them.  Sometimes, this would mean seeking help – as was the case when my eldest son broke his arm, or his brother broke his tooth or my daughter needed stiches.  But other times what they really needed from me was a kiss and a cuddle and a reminder that I was with them and loved them and that the bad thing would go away soon and that the pain would not last forever.

My God is the perfect Parent.  I do not need to cry to Him.  He does not need this evolutionary adaptation.  Instead, He can understand what I need in silence.

How do I know this?

Simply because this is the example set by the Blessed Virgin and the Saints…

The Blessed Virgin offered hidden sacrifices.

“Mary, teacher of the sacrifice that is hidden and silent! See her, nearly always in the background, co-operating with her Son; she knows, yet says nothing.” (Saint Josemaria, “The Way”, at 509).

And how pleasing she is to God.  This soul who was envisioned at the beginning of creation, who was destined to become the Queen of Heaven – not because she was forced to goodness, but because – through her silence and ascent – she accepted all the sufferings sent to her without complaint.

I compare this to my complaining and my whinging every single time something does not go exactly according to my plan.  There I sit – completely entitled – and complain and rant at my God telling Him how it is not going to work out properly or I am disappointed that things are not going according to plan.  And instead, I should be following in the footsteps of the Blessed Virgin.  I should be sitting in silence and waiting and wondering and contemplating the next request of my Beloved. 

The Blessed Virgin did not waste time on complaints.  She was too busy surrendering to the Holy Will of God and in that surrender, she was able to remain hidden in His Holy Heart.  And in that hiding, the Blessed Virgin was able to be transformed into the glory of God Himself.  For it is only when we are hidden in God that we can reflect His true glory!

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