A Lenten Journey with Mary: From Bethlehem to Jerusalem-Day 29

“Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof; for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” Luke 7:6-7

The silence and solitude of my home was interrupted one afternoon by the sound of a horse coming up the hill. I must say that I became scared because usually only soldiers rode horses. The Roman soldiers were known to come into towns, abuse women and kill people simply for their pleasure. 

I looked through my window, and sure enough, it was a Roman soldier accompanied by his servants. He jumped off his horse, and he walked to my door. He knocked and said: “I am looking for Jesus’ mother. Do not be afraid, I come in peace.”

I opened the door slowly. When he saw me, he said: “Are you Mary, the mother of Jesus of Nazareth?”

“Yes I am.”

“My name is Marcus. I’m a centurion in Capernaum, and a friend of the Jews. I built them a synagogue over there. I was passing by and I wanted to meet the mother of the Messiah.”

“How is my Son doing?”

“I would like to tell you a story.”

“Please come in. Would you like some freshly baked bread?”

He sat in the kitchen, and I served him some bread and some wine.

I sat at the table, and I listened to his story:

“One of my slaves, highly regarded by me, was sick and about to die. When I heard about Jesus and all the miracles that He was performing, I sent some of the Jewish elders to speak to Him on my behalf. When Jesus was close to my house, I did not feel worthy that He would enter under my roof, so I sent word to Him through some of my servants. I asked them to tell Him that I was not worthy to come near Him, but that I knew that all He had to do was say a word and my slave would be healed.”

The centurion removed his helmet. His hair was silver and his eyes looked at me like those of a little boy asking for a sip of water. “Jesus said that the reason why my slave was healed was because of my great faith. I have never had the courage to seek Him and ask Him about my doubts. That is why today I have come to you, His Mother. Please tell me, Mary, what mysterious force cured my slave? You carried Him in your womb, so you must know His secret.”

I looked at him with all the sweetness that I carried within me, and I shared my secret with him. There is only one secret. The one that I have guarded in silence all these years. The one I learned next to Jesus since the day that the angel appeared to me all those years ago.

“My son,” I told him, “Jesus was not the one that cured your slave. It was your faith the one that saved your slave. My Son never says, ‘I have saved you.’ He always says: ‘Your faith has saved you.’ It is that faith that moves mountains. It is that faith that gives light to the blind. It is that faith that brings hope to the poor. I learned this since I was a little girl, and I opened myself to this light that was already within me, accepting God’s will as His handmaid, allowing His word to be made flesh within me. Faith is the strongest force and it is through faith that we obtain salvation.”

That big, tall centurion, knelt in front of me and He kissed my hands. And just like that, he left with tears in his eyes. 

Reflection:

The centurion’s slave was saved because of the centurion’s faith. Have I ever experienced a miracle because I have prayed in faith? Do I have hope that the hardship that I am experiencing right now will be resolved because of my faith?

Copyright © 2020 Christy Romero. All rights reserved.

Resources from the following books are being used on this journey:

1. The Mystical City of God: A Popular Abridgement of the Divine History and Live of the Virgin Mother of God by Venerable Mary of

Agreda

2. The World’s First Love: Mary, Mother of God by Fulton J. Sheen

3. Las Palabras Calladas: Diario de Maria de Nazaret by Pedro Miguel Lamet

4. My Soul Magnifies the Lord: A Scriptural Journey with Mary by Jeanne Kun

All Bible references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise specified.

A Lenten Journey with Mary: From Bethlehem to Jerusalem-Day 28

“And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff. But passing through their midst, He went His way.” Luke 4:28-30

It had been six months since the last time I had seen Jesus. I kept hearing many things about all the miracles that He was performing and all the people that He was healing. I prayed daily for Him and for His protection.

One day, late in the afternoon on a Friday, I was sitting by the window, when I saw Him coming up the hill. I thought it was a vision. I could not believe that He was there for real. But then I heard His voice: “Mother!!!”

I ran outside, and we hugged each other tightly. We had never been apart for such a long time. I wanted that hug to last forever.

“What are You doing here?” I asked Him.

“I missed You, Mother.” He said. “The disciples also missed their families so we are taking a small break. We will spend this Sabbath with our families.”

“I have heard about the miracles that You have been performing.”

“Yes, Mother, but it’s not the miracles what’s important, it’s the conversion of hearts that are taking place. A lot of people are hearing about God for the first time. My Father is asking me to bring the Good News to Jews and Gentiles alike. His Love is for everyone. This is a mission of Love.”

We stayed up talking until late at night. I knew that I only had a few hours with Him so I wanted to make them count. I did not want to waste a single minute with sleep, just what was necessary. Before we said good-night, we said our evening prayers together.

The next day, we went to the synagogue together for the Sabbath. Our neighbors were all surprised to see Him when we entered the synagogue together, but even more surprised when He got up to read. “The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.’ And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, ‘Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’” (1)

I expected the worst, but I looked around me, and to my surprise, everyone looked happy and amazed at “the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, ‘Is this not Joseph’s son?’” (2)

Jesus continued talking. “No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’ And He said, ‘Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown. But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.’” (3)

After He pronounced these words, I could cut the silence around me with a knife. I looked around me and the people looked like they had turned into stone. And then all of a sudden, everyone seemed to get up all at once, and I felt like I was being pushed by a mob. It was as if a violent hurricane had overcome the multitude. “All the people in the synagogue were filled with rage.” (4) They grabbed Jesus, and in the midst of screams and curses, they pushed Him out of the synagogue. I was terrified.

I followed the mob with fear in my heart. Then all of a sudden, I felt someone grab my hand. I turned around and it was Salome. She hugged me, and together, we walked behind the people. They “drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built.” (5) I knew this cliff well because when Jesus was little, I used to tell Him to stay away from there because I was afraid that He would fall down the cliff. I realized that this is exactly what our neighbors wanted to do, “to throw Him down the cliff.” (5) I was terrified. I could not believe my eyes. These were my neighbors, many of them knew me and I knew them since birth, they had seen Jesus grow, others had been His childhood friends, and yet, they looked like wild horses gone crazy. “Let’s throw Him down the cliff,” they screamed. “Liar! You are a fraud!” They had every intention to push Him down the rocky hill, and it was just too much for me to see. I hugged Salome and I hid my face in her chest. She was also in shock at what was transpiring right in front of her eyes. Yes, she had her doubts about her nephew, but these people wanted to kill Him. It had gotten completely out of hand. 

All of a sudden, the screams turned into surprised silence. “Mary,” I heard Salome say. When I looked, I saw Jesus “passing through their midst.” (6) He looked at me one last time, and “He went His way.” (6)

My neighbors, when they realized that Jesus had simply disappeared, turned against me. Salome stopped them: “Have you all gone crazy? What has Mary ever done to you?” They stopped and looked at me, still with anger in their eyes. But little by little, they went away. After all, Salome was right. I had never done anything other than try to be a good neighbor, love them, and help everyone out. After everyone left, Salome looked at me, and hugged me again. She walked with me back to my house, and stayed until late in the afternoon. We talked like we had not done in a very long time. It was as if all the months of separation had vanished in an instant, and I had my sister back.

Reflection:

Mary and Salome’s friendship suffered because Salome did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. Do I have any friends that I have not spoken to in a very long time because of some misunderstanding or hurt in the past? In the blink of an eye, Mary and Salome reunite again, and all the months of separation vanish in an instant. What do I need to do to forgive my friend just like Mary forgave Salome?

Copyright © 2020 Christy Romero. All rights reserved.

References:

1. Luke 4:17-21
2. Luke 4:22
3. Luke 4:23-27
4. Luke 4:28
5. Luke 4:29
6. Luke 4:30

Resources from the following books are being used on this journey:

1. The Mystical City of God: A Popular Abridgement of the Divine History and Live of the Virgin Mother of God by Venerable Mary of

Agreda

2. The World’s First Love: Mary, Mother of God by Fulton J. Sheen

3. Las Palabras Calladas: Diario de Maria de Nazaret by Pedro Miguel Lamet

4. My Soul Magnifies the Lord: A Scriptural Journey with Mary by Jeanne Kun

All Bible references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise specified.

A Lenten Journey with Mary: From Bethlehem to Jerusalem-Day 27

“The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.” John 2:13-15

My return to Nazareth felt worst than when I went through the desert on our flight to Egypt. At least then, I had Joseph and Jesus with me. But this time, I felt all alone. Yes, I returned with the family, but they didn’t feel like family at that point. They practically ignored me the entire way. I had become the mother of Jesus who had “lost His senses.” (1)

If the return trip was hard, getting to Nazareth was even tougher. After the excitement in Cana, people began to wonder whether it had all been planned. When I went down to the town square for water, people would look at me with distrust and even with noticeable rejection. “She’s the carpenter’s mother,” they would say behind my backs. “The one who has lost His senses claiming that He’s the Messiah. How dare He. If poor Joseph could see Him now. He would be so ashamed.”

Even the women who used to be my friends completely ignored me or pretended not to know me when I ran into them at the well. I would return to my house in solitude. I would sit by myself at the window to write or to knit. Oh how I miss my Joseph and my Jesus. How I miss having someone to talk to and share my day with. There is so much silence all around me. My home has become my desert. But I know that God is here with me, and He will not abandon me.

I heard about Jesus from the travelers that came through Nazareth. One of them told me that he had seen Jesus in Jerusalem at the temple: “He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.” (2) When I heard this, I feared for Him. I was sure that as much as He was admired by some, He was also making enemies with others, especially the priests and Pharisees. And of course, the more stories that reached Nazareth, the more my neighbors grew angry at Him and at me.

But I was not concerned about our neighbors. My worry was only for Jesus. I imagined Him as a sheep amongst wolves. This was the same Jesus that I carried in my arms. He’s the one that I saw play and cry as He was growing up. I stayed up with Him many nights when He had a fever. I would tell Him stories so He could fall sleep. Jesus, with His humble and loving heart, who had come only with one purpose: to complete His Father’s mission. And I felt the weight of that mission also on my shoulders.

Reflection:

Have I ever felt as lonely as Mary must have felt after she stayed alone in Nazareth? Do I trust, like she did, that God will not abandon me?

Copyright © 2020 Christy Romero. All rights reserved.

References:

1. Mark 3:21
2. John 2:14-15

Resources from the following books are being used on this journey:

1. The Mystical City of God: A Popular Abridgement of the Divine History and Live of the Virgin Mother of God by Venerable Mary of

Agreda

2. The World’s First Love: Mary, Mother of God by Fulton J. Sheen

3. Las Palabras Calladas: Diario de Maria de Nazaret by Pedro Miguel Lamet

4. My Soul Magnifies the Lord: A Scriptural Journey with Mary by Jeanne Kun

All Bible references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise specified.

Finding Solace in the Desert

“Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”Mark 4:40

When 2020 began, I made a list of twenty resolutions. Two of those were: “I will spend less time on social media and more time face-to-face with those that truly matter, and I will hug my loved ones more.” Little did I know that a tiny little bug that was already threatening China, would spread throughout the entire world and kick those two resolutions out the window. 

I have watched in disbelief how this thing has progressed in such a short amount of time. A month ago, I went to mass, and they told us to give each other peace without touching. The following week all church activities, except masses, were cancelled. One week later, all masses were cancelled, schools and universities were closed. Now, some churches are offering drive-thru confessions, imagine that.

The same thing has happened to small businesses. First, all restaurants closed except for take-out and delivery. Next came all non-essential businesses, like the beauty salon... who said that was non-essential? Pretty soon, we are all going to have to learn new skills to cut each other’s hairs and to apply color to hide those white hairs that have not stopped growing at lightning speed. 

And then came the madness. People started buying toilet paper in absurd quantities. I guess they were smart. Pretty soon we will need to start using plastic bags or paper plates because toilet paper has disappeared from every store. 

But if there is a silver lining to all this, is that this little “corona” bug has pushed us to stop and reflect. Yesterday, I watched Pope Francis give his special “Urbi et Orbi” blessing live from St. Peter’s Basilica. He said a few things that resonated with me: “We are all on the same boat.” For the first time in my life, the whole world is on the same boat. This bug has not discriminated. Every single country in the world has been affected. For the first time that I can remember, the entire world is united in prayer. Even though St. Peter’s Square was completely empty, thousands of people around the world were watching and we were all one body united in prayer.

“We have all gone ahead at breakneck speed, ignoring the wars, injustice, and cries of the poor and our ailing planet. We carried on regardless, thinking we would stay healthy in a world that was sick,” said Pope Francis. Yes, we have turned our back on the poor and on our world. We have felt invincible and we have turned our backs on God. And now we are terrified. But Jesus asks us: “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” And that is the problem right there, we have lost our faith. And where there is no faith, there is no hope.

“Really,” said Pope Francis, “it is Jesus calling out to us to be converted, calling us to faith.” Now that we have to stay home because the restaurants are closed, the malls are closed, the theaters are closed, the beauty salons are closed, and the sporting events have been cancelled, we have a choice to make. We can continue ignoring the needs of our world. We can replace those things that are closed with social media and television. We can continue living in our selfish little world, or we can stop to think what is Jesus asking of us.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this pandemic is happening during Lent. We are experiencing a different kind of Lent this year. Jesus has brought us to our knees and has taken us into the desert with Him. He is giving us this opportunity to stop our hurried lives and reflect on where we are headed. Like Pope Francis said: “Now is not the time of God’s judgment, but of our own: a time to choose what matters and what passes away, a time to separate what is necessary from what is not.”

God is asking us, in the midst of our desert, to look within and find meaning to our lives. He is asking us “to reawaken and put into practice that solidarity and hope capable of giving strength, support and meaning to these hours when everything seems to be floundering.” This pandemic will end, but what lessons will we take from this? Will we return to our previous meaningless lives or will we find a reason to make this world a better place?

“In the midst of isolation when we are suffering from a lack of tenderness and chances to meet up, and we experience the loss of so many things,” Pope Francis said, “let us once again listen to the proclamation that saves us: He is risen and is living by our side.” Let us find solace in Christ while we are walking through the desert. “Embracing the Lord in order to embrace hope: that is the strength of faith, which frees us from fear and gives us hope.”

Soon, I know that I will be able to hug my loved ones once again, and I will be able to spend more time face-to-face with those that truly matter. For now, I have to be content of seeing them through video chat or from the car. By the end of this quarantine, my hair may be totally white, but one thing I know for sure is that I will not be the same careless person that I was before this all began. And “I will not be afraid. Together with Peter, (I will) cast all (my)anxieties onto (the Lord), for (He) cares about us (cf. 1 Pet 5:7).”

Concluding his meditation, Pope Francis entrusted us all to the Lord, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, so that our faith might not waiver in this time of crisis. “Jesus’ cross,” said Pope Francis, “is the anchor that has saved us, the rudder that has redeemed us, and our hope, because by His cross we have been healed and embraced so that nothing and no one can separate us from His redeeming love.” It is only in God that we can find solace in the desert.

Copyright © 2020 Christy Romero. All rights reserved.

A Lenten Journey with Mary: From Bethlehem to Jerusalem-Day 26

“After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days.” John 2:12

The day after the wedding, Jesus asked me to go with Him and His disciples to Capernaum. When His uncle Clopas and His aunt Salome found out that we were going to Capernaum, they decided that they would go with us too.

It was quite a caravan. Jesus, His six disciples and me. Clopas, Mary, their four sons, two daughters-in-law because James and Judas were already married, and their three grandchildren. Salome, Samuel and their two daughters. It took us four days to arrive to Capernaum. 

When we reached the top of the mountain, we were surprised by the bright blue of the Sea of Galilee. It was so peaceful that it looked like a lake, yet it was so large that it was called a sea. It was about to become my Son’s World. Here, He would plant the seed for His mission, through His teachings and His miracles.

We arrived to Capernaum on the afternoon. On the seashore, the fishermen were picking up their nets and separating their silver catch. The larger ones would be sold at the market while the smaller ones would be distributed among them. This was a fishing town, and we went directly to John and James’ house.

We were welcomed by their mother. “Shalom! Welcome, welcome. You must be Mary, Jesus’ mother. Come in, come in. Make yourselves comfortable. Zebedee is probably picking up the nets and he will be home soon.” They were a very religious family who lived off the sea. They had various boats and various fishermen who worked for them.

We then went to Peter’s house, where we met his wife and mother-in-law. Soon, Andrew’s wife showed up. They were simple women who took care of their households with joy and responsibility. They all knew Jesus from His previous visits, so now all eyes were on me, the Rabbi’s mother. They were curious about who I was, and they were fascinated with Jesus, especially after they heard what happened in Cana.

Unfortunately, our own family was not that fascinated. They had mixed feelings. On one side, they loved Jesus. He was their nephew, their cousin, but the idea that He was the Messiah confused them. They were between a stone and a hard place. After all, we lived in Nazareth and not all our neighbors were accepting of Jesus. Some thought that He had lost His marbles. And there were also those that were a bit envious of the increasing attention that Jesus was drawing to Himself. This put our family in a difficult position. If they accepted Jesus, it could turn our neighbors against them. During our trip, there were comments packed with puns and sarcasm, to which I responded with my silence. Jesus was also aware, so He decided that it was best if we stayed in Capernaum just a couple of days.

On our last afternoon, Jesus found time to walk with me down to the seashore. He had been very busy preparing for His mission. He told me that the following day, He would begin teaching on the towns around the sea. “I must announce the Kingdom of God and the Good News to the poor,” He told me. “I will perform many miracles and cure a lot of sick people. They will now become my mother and my brothers and my sisters. Some will believe, while others will think I’m nuts. You must return to Nazareth, dear mother, blessed are thou amongst women.”

The sun had set and the wind had picked up. He hugged me, and in that hug, I experienced a torrent of memories of my Baby Boy, my Son, my Everything. It was time to say good-bye. Now the mother had to remain in the shadows. I knew that the angels would continue to protect me, while Simeon’s sword was being sharpened, getting ready to pierce my soul and my heart.

I wanted to say something, but the words evaded me. He told me to go back to the house, that He wanted to stay a little longer by the seashore to pray. As I walked back, holding back the tears, I knew that I would forever carry Him in my heart, snuggled up in my silence and my solitude. That’s how I have always carried Him, since the day that I felt Him wake up within me.

Reflection:

Mary has to let go of her Son as He enters His public ministry. Has God ever asked me to let go of someone who had a significant role in my life? How did I feel? What helped me to be able to do this freely?

Copyright © 2020 Christy Romero. All rights reserved.

Resources from the following books are being used on this journey:

1. The Mystical City of God: A Popular Abridgement of the Divine History and Live of the Virgin Mother of God by Venerable Mary of

Agreda

2. The World’s First Love: Mary, Mother of God by Fulton J. Sheen

3. Las Palabras Calladas: Diario de Maria de Nazaret by Pedro Miguel Lamet

4. My Soul Magnifies the Lord: A Scriptural Journey with Mary by Jeanne Kun

All Bible references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise specified.

A Lenten Journey with Mary: From Bethlehem to Jerusalem-Day 25

“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.” John 2:1-2

It’s the first night of the wedding celebrations and Jesus is nowhere to be found. Sarah, on the other hand, is radiant. I have always had a special bond with her, and since she lost her mother at such a tender age, she has always considered me like a surrogate mother. 

She gets ready at her aunt’s house, where a lot of us that came from Nazareth are staying. I feel like we are sardines inside a can because there is barely any room to move. When she walks out of the room, all the women explode in “oh’s” and “ah’s.” She’s truly a vision in white with her dress, her veil which covers her from head to foot, and the coins on her forehead. “You outdid yourself, Mary,” my sister-in-law Salome tells me. “The dress is so beautiful, simple and elegant at the same time.” Salome’s daughters are two of the virgins that are waiting with their lamps filled with oil ready to be lit at the sight of the groom.

Soon we hear a commotion outside. “The groom is coming!” “The groom is coming!” We walk outside and see the parade of torches coming up the hill. And among the men accompanying the groom, I spot my Son. I would be able to recognize Him among a million people. My heart was ready to burst at the sight of Him. When Jesus is present, the atmosphere changes. He has such a powerful personality that He always draws attention to Himself. Right away, I heard the murmurs around me. Everyone knew already what had happened at the Jordan River. Some people were fascinated by Him while others were incredulous. 

When the wedding ceremony was over, Jesus came over to hug me and introduce me to His friends. Now there were six of them. They were all rough and simple men, with sunburned skins, dreamy eyes, and with that easy going and playful personality typical of most fishermen. John was the youngest and he seemed the sweetest. Peter had a loud voice that sounded like thunder. His brother Andrew was more quiet and reserved. Philip and James both hugged me as if they knew me their entire lives. And the sixth one, Nathanael, I later found out that when he met my Son, the first thing He said was: “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (1) But my Son impressed him by responding: “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!” (2) Jesus had seen Nathanael under a fig tree and knew right away that he would be one of his disciples.

The wedding banquet surpassed the number of guests that they were expecting. Sarah told me that the guests would be around eighty, but there were over one hundred persons at the feast. I kept looking towards Sarah and Luke, worried that they would not have enough food to feed all these people. They entered the spacious room amid a rain of flowers that the virgin bridesmaids threw at them, while the music accompanied them in their first dance. 

As the night progressed, people continued to consume food and drink wine. The servants were moving non-stop, replacing the empty trays with new ones, and refilling the jars of wine that would be emptied at the speed of lightning. All of a sudden, I saw how the headwaiter approached the groom, said something in his ear, and Luke’s face turned beet red. Here in Israel, where hospitality is so highly valued, and where the grapes grow so abundantly, it would be quite disconcerting for the hosts to run out of wine. Sarah, who was talking with her friends, had not noticed the problem, so I hoped to remedy the awkward situation before she and Luke would be totally embarrassed. 

I turned to “Jesus (and) said to Him, ‘They have no wine.’” (3)

Jesus looked at me with a perplexed look and said, “Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.” (4)

I must confess that I was taken aback by His response. He had never addressed me as “woman.” He had always called me “mother.” What was wrong with Him? And once again, the famous hour that He was always referring to. What hour? I remembered when He stayed behind in the temple. It seemed that whenever His mission came to the forefront, His personal feelings got pushed to the background. 

But I could not think about that right now. The newlyweds’ reputation was on the line. Therefore, I ignored my Son’s strange words, and I “said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it.’ Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the waterpots with water.’ So they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, ‘Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.’ So they took it to him. When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom, and said to him, ‘Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have kept the good wine until now.’” (5)

Luke looked dumbfounded, but he turned to Sarah who was still happily talking to her friends, completely oblivious to what had just transpired. 

Jesus’ disciples were very much aware of the miracle that had just taken place. It was the “beginning of His signs... and (it) manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him.” (6)

I rejoiced because my Son advanced His hour simply because I asked Him to. It was a free miracle that He gave from His heart, not only because He loved Sarah like a sister, but because just like me He knew that a celebration had value. It brought unity to a community and it made a heart rejoice.

The wedding celebrations lasted three more days, until the blessed wine finally ran out, and the young guests got tired of dancing through the entire town day and night. When the lights were turned off and the music ceased, Sarah came over, hugged me and said: “Thank you, Mother.” At that moment, I knew that my hour was near, the hour that I would live next to Jesus, to become the mother of the whole world through the pain of my Son’s blood. And I realized that by calling me “woman,” He dignified me with the great title of universal motherhood. 

Reflection:

Mary recognizes our needs before we ourselves do, and she is eager to intercede with her Son on our behalf. How ready am I to do whatever He tells me?

Copyright © 2020 Christy Romero. All rights reserved.

References:

1. John 1:46
2. John 1:47
3. John 2:3
4. John 2:4
5. John 2:5-10
6. John 2:11

Resources from the following books are being used on this journey:

1. The Mystical City of God: A Popular Abridgement of the Divine History and Live of the Virgin Mother of God by Venerable Mary of

Agreda

2. The World’s First Love: Mary, Mother of God by Fulton J. Sheen

3. Las Palabras Calladas: Diario de Maria de Nazaret by Pedro Miguel Lamet

4. My Soul Magnifies the Lord: A Scriptural Journey with Mary by Jeanne Kun

All Bible references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise specified.

A Lenten Journey with Mary: From Bethlehem to Jerusalem-Day 24

“Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.” Matthew 4:18-20

Spring has arrived. It’s my favorite season. I love how the fields turn from yellow to green, and flowers begin to bloom everywhere. It’s as if the earth comes out from mourning and dresses with its most colorful clothing. As I finished sewing the white dress that Sarah will wear on her wedding day, I breathed in the perfume that was all around me in the air.

I am already in Cana. I arrived three days ago, and I am staying in Sarah’s aunt’s house. The town is already in a jovial wedding mood. There is music on the streets, and the townspeople seem to dance instead of walk. Cana is on the road that leads to Capernaum, not too far from Nazareth.

I am nervous because the wedding celebrations start in just a couple of days, and Jesus still has not arrived. He is supposed to bring His five disciples. Before He left to meet up with them, He told me how He had found them. The first two, Andrew and Simon, are fishermen from the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was walking on the shore, when He spotted them. They were casting a net into the sea. Jesus says that He just knew that they had been chosen by God. He told them: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (1) And just like that, Andrew and Simon dropped their nets and they followed my Son. Jesus then changed Simon’s name. He said: “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas.” (2) Cephas translated is Peter.

“Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.” (3) “The next day He purposed to go into Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him, ‘Follow Me,’” (4) and Philip dropped everything and went after my Son.

It should surprise me that these five humble men that had their lives already mapped out for them would leave everything behind to follow a strange man that they had never met before, but knowing my Son and His magnetic personality, I am not surprised that He captured their hearts with just one look. No one better than me knows how one can fall in love with my Son from just one word from His lips or if He looks at You with His gentle eyes. That is exactly what happened to His disciples.

I am looking forward to meeting my Son’s disciples. I hope they arrive soon so I have the opportunity to get to know them before all the festivities for the wedding begin.

Reflection:

The disciples dropped everything to follow Jesus. Jesus is also asking me to follow Him. How have I responded to His call?

Copyright © 2020 Christy Romero. All rights reserved.

References:

1. Matthew 4:19
2. John 1:42
3. Matthew 4:21-22
4. John 1:43

Resources from the following books are being used on this journey:

1. The Mystical City of God: A Popular Abridgement of the Divine History and Live of the Virgin Mother of God by Venerable Mary of

Agreda

2. The World’s First Love: Mary, Mother of God by Fulton J. Sheen

3. Las Palabras Calladas: Diario de Maria de Nazaret by Pedro Miguel Lamet

4. My Soul Magnifies the Lord: A Scriptural Journey with Mary by Jeanne Kun

All Bible references are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise specified.

A Lenten Journey with Mary: From Bethlehem to Jerusalem-Day 23

“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led around by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil.” Luke 4:1-2

Jesus was gone for almost two months. I tried to pretend that I was not worried. I said my prayers daily, and I entrusted Him to the Lord. I knew that God was taking care of our Son, wherever He was. But the not knowing for me, was the worst. I asked everyone that returned from visiting John the Baptist in the desert, but no one had seen my Son. No one knew of His whereabouts.

The neighbors asked me about Him. After Jacob had returned, the rumors about Jesus being the awaited Messiah spread like wildfire. Some of our neighbors were happy, but others looked at me with contempt. Everywhere I went, I knew that Jesus was the topic of conversation because people would grow silent as I approached them, while others taunted me to see if I would reveal anything to them.

My days while I waited for Jesus to return seemed interminable. Every corner of the house reminded me of Him. Whenever I went down to the town, and I walked by the closed shop, I became nostalgic. Going for a walk through the valley without Him felt very lonely. 

Finally, one day, as I sat by the window sewing, I saw a tall man in a white tunic coming up the hill. My heart jumped, and I ran to meet Him. 

“Jesus!”

“Mother!”

The entire universe was contained in the hug that we gave each other. 

We sat outside to talk. He told me that after He met with John, He knew that His hour had arrived. He felt the Holy Spirit leading Him into the wilderness, where He spent forty days and forty nights. It was a time of preparation for His mission. He told me that He fasted during this time. I could not imagine how He could have survived for so long without any food, but He must have read my mind because He told me that His strength came from His father in heaven, and He didn’t feel the need for food.

He also shared with me that He had been tempted by the devil. He said that it happened at the end of the forty days, when He began to feel very hungry. He told me that the devil appeared to Him and said: “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” (1)

“What did You answer him, Son?”

Jesus told me that He answered the devil: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” (2)

“Did he leave You alone after that?”

“Unfortunately not. He led (Me) up and showed (Me) all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to (Me), ‘I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be Yours.’ (I) answered him, ‘It is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.”’” (3)

“Was that sufficient for him to go away?”

“No, he led (Me) to Jerusalem and had (Me) stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to (Me), ‘If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; for it is written, “He will command His angels concerning You to guard You,” and, “On their hands they will bear You up, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.”’ And I answered and said to him, ‘It is said, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”’” (4)

“Did he continue to tempt You after You said that to him?”

“No, after that, he finally left Me. But I know, Mother, that this is just the beginning.”

Jesus told me that we would both suffer a lot, but in the end, the light would triumph over the darkness. He said that His mission was about to start, and therefore, He was not planning to reopen the shop. He was going to offer it to some relatives to see if they were interested in taking over.

I told Him that Sarah was getting married in a few days. “Will You stay for the wedding, Son? It will be in Cana, where the groom is from. You know that Sarah is like a daughter to me. It would not be the same if You are not there.”

Jesus smiled. “Don’t worry, Mother. Tomorrow, I am leaving again to meet my disciples. I already have five disciples that want to embark on this mission with me. But I promise you that I will return for the wedding.”

I kissed His hands and I leaned my head on His shoulder. While we talked, the sun had set. Nazareth looked like a silver tray under the light of the moon. For a moment, I thought that we were in the desert, on our way to Egypt, and that it was His little head the one that leaned on my shoulder. But thirty years have passed, and now time was going to get on our way and separate us. But for tonight, He was mine.

Reflection:

Jesus was tempted by the devil in His moment of weakness. Have I ever felt tempted by the devil? How did I respond?

Copyright © 2020 Christy Romero. All rights reserved.

References:

1. Luke 4:3
2. Luke 4:4
3. Luke 4:5-8
4. Luke 4:9-12