The greatness and the Sensitivity of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Gospel Thoughts

*Ordinary Season : 12th Week - Saturday*

*Memory of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary*

*GOSPEL -  Luke 2:41-51*

*FIRST READING - Is 61:9-11*

*The greatness and the Sensitivity of the Immaculate Heart of Mary*

*1) A heart which is sensitive towards Religious things*

Each year they went to Jerusalem temple to experience God 

When Jesus was 12 years old, Mary took Jesus to the Jerusalem temple to celebrate the Passover festival

This shows that the Heart of Mary was so sensitive towards Religious things 

*2) A Heart which seraches for Jesus*

After the festival, as they were going home, half way Mary realised that Jesus is not with them 

So immediately she began to serach for Jesus. Her heart was troubled, when she came to know about the absence of Jesus. 

A heart which is very sensitive, began to search for Jesus  

*3) A heart which takes all the trouble*

We see that the heart of Mary which was troubled takes all the trouble to serach for Jesus 

They come back the entire way, without blaming anyone, but thinking of Jesus and getting him back 

The heart of Mary took all the troubles to search for Jesus. 

*4) A heart which questions the Son*

When Mary saw Jesus after three days in the temple, the spontaneous response was to question Jesus 

A tender heart which was searching for Jesus, spontaneously reacts in knowing the situation. 

It is not a blame game, but a genuine serach for knowing the things 

*5) A heart which tries to understand everything*

When Mary questioned everything, Jesus was answering those questions in a way, which Mary could not understand 

Even then Mary was trying to understand those things which were spoken by Jesus. 

*6) A heart which kept everything in the Heart*

The Gospel of the day tells us that Mary *kept all these things in her heart.*

Keeping in her heart means, keeping very close to her, in order to reflect the same. 

When something is kept in the Heart means, one can calculate the importance of the same 

By keeping in her heart she was able to understand those things to a certain extent, which made her to accept the will of God. 

*7) Mary's Heart in me*

As we are celebrating the memory of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we are called upon to grow in the qualities of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Qualities like sensitivity, Pondering over the things,  feeling for the others, accepting the things as they are, etc are some of the qualities of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. 

Am I ready to cultivate these qualities in my life? 

*Mary my Mother, help me to create a immaculate heart like yours*

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*