As we come together on this Saturday, we recall the significance of Our Lady in our Catholic faith. As the Mother of our Savior, Mary is the model of perfect spirituality and the true humility to be emulated by all Christians. Today's readings remind us of her importance in our lives and in the lives of saints, such as Saint Francis of Assisi. Saint Francis saw Mary as the epitome of humility and obedience to God's will. He admired her willingness to accept her role as the Mother of God and her humility in service.
The first reading from Hebrews speaks of the living word of God, which penetrates to the depths of our soul. This is a reminder that Our Lady, as the Mother of the Word, embodies the very nature of God's word. She is the first recipient of the Incarnate Word, and through her 'fiat,' she brought the Living God to humanity. Saint Francis sought to be like her in bringing Jesus to others, through love, patience, and sacrifice.
The Responsorial Psalm reminds us of the beauty and power of God's word, which is described as "Spirit and life." This is reflected in Our Lady's own life who allowed Jesus to be the spirit and life of her soul. She is the embodiment of the 'Word made Flesh' alive and active in our day to day living.
In the Gospel, we see Jesus' encounter with Levi, also known as Matthew, where He calls him to be a disciple. Mary too was called by God for a specific and special purpose. Our Lady's 'fiat' reflects her willingness to surrender herself to God's will, just as Levi surrendered himself to Jesus' call to follow Him.
We see a beautiful image of Our Lady in the early Christian communities, where women played a vital role in the life of the Church. The early Christians would often venerate Our Lady as the 'mother of many brethren,' emphasizing her role as a mother and intercessor on behalf of all Christians.
Saint Francis, known for his love and devotion to Our Lady, was deeply inspired by her example. He saw in her the perfect model of surrender to God's will and the embodiment of God's word. Our Lady played a crucial role in Saint Francis' life, guiding him to live out his vocation as a follower of Christ. He would often turn to her for guidance and intercession, recognizing her as the bridge between Jesus and ourselves. She carries us to Him, and pleads before him on our behalf. Considering she is not only Queen of Heaven and Earth, but his Mother, these prayers are the most powerful in all of Heaven when it comes to intercession with Jesus. Francis was well aware of this.
Let us ask Our Lady to intercede for us, to guide us on our spiritual journey, and to help us to discern God's will for our lives. May we, like Saint Francis of Assisi, find inspiration in her example and be drawn closer to the heart of Christ through her maternal love.
May the words of our mouth and the state of our souls find favour before the Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer, as we seek to follow in the footsteps of Our Blessed Mother, in purity of intention and humility of heart, so that we too may exclaim with her that our souls rejoice in the great things he has done for all of us. May you have a blessed Saturday and may God bless you through her prayers always. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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