“And He replied, ‘Who are My mother and My brethren?’” (Matthew 12:48).
I read a line by Saint Josemaría the other day, and it said… “Do you really want to be a saint? Carry out the little duty of each moment: do what you ought and concentrate on what you are doing.”
And I have been reflecting on this line ever since. You see, I DO lots of stuff. I pray my rosary and try to get to Mass. I offer the Divine Mercy and try to fit in some charitable deeds during my day. And yet – even despite all of this – I still have a way to go. You see, God tells me when it is the time to do what needs to be done. He guides me through the activities that I am called to participate in.
If I pray when it is time to pray, and work when it is time to work, and offer sacrifices when it is time for offering sacrifices, well… THEN, I can be holy.
You see, if I do all the bits and pieces in GOD’S time, that will mean that I have an opportunity to become a saint. Our Blessed Mother – the Virgin Mary – did everything that God desired in the time He provided. When He wanted her to move, she moved. When He wanted her to stay still, she stayed still. And when He wanted her to stand quietly beside her dying Son, she did that too…
And that did not come from a moment in time – but from a lifetime of practice. And Christ helped her to practice accepting the Holy Will of God – even when it was difficult…
“A crowd was sitting about Him; and they said to Him, ‘Your mother and Your brethren are outside, asking for You.’ And He replied, ‘Who are My mother and My brethren?’ And looking around on those who sat about Him, He said, ‘Here are My mother and My brethren! Whoever does the will of God is My brother, and sister, and mother.’” (Mark 3:31-35).
When the Blessed Virgin heard those words, she did not rail at her Holy Son. She did not cry out that He was being unfair. She did not judge Him. Instead, she stood quietly at the back of the crowd – in the least conspicuous place – and listened to the words of God and pondered them quietly in her heart.
And I have been thinking about that today. Because on that day – twenty centuries ago – Christ left His mother waiting at the back of the crowd. But today she is Queen of Heaven. And I guess, I can see how it really does all come down to a matter of timing…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.