MARY.me

Mary—Catholics honor the Blessed Virgin for being God’s instrument for our Savior’s birth. Through her, God’s plan for salvation started. Others would argue about why Catholics “worship” Mary interpreting that the Church prays to her as if she were god. I admit, I was once one of them in thinking. Why should I pray to her? Why should I call her name?

I went Church-Hopping. I attended services instead of the usual “Mass” Catholics have. I also experienced living my own life—a life without God. Then again, I always felt empty, lost, angry, sad, and the like. Unknowingly, I was awakened by the thought of getting back to my Church. I decided to return to my faith; it was NEVER easy. Then it came to me, like sugar rush, the Eucharist we celebrate is subtle. It is a mystery, a special sacrament made to remember Christ’s Paschal Mystery. As I recall, I had never seen this in any other Church services (as they call it); the feeling that it gave me—peace.

From that moment on, I felt the fire burning in me—the call to turn to my Savior; the fact that there is a Savior. Suddenly, I want to know more about my faith; thoughts like, why did I almost kill it? What made me turn away? So I started to find my own path, a path wherein I am best comfortable to travel. I attended mass with my family (mostly it was just me, my dad, and my little brother). Then, as much as possible, we go to mass in the morning which my uncle (a priest) presides. It gave me comfort because I get to ask questions (most of them are produced by my oh-so-energetic-wit) and clarifications; they gave me answers. I can also easily argue with my uncle when I question beliefs and some practice we have and he enlightens me—again, I am at peace.

December 8 is the day of the Immaculate Conception. Anna is bearing a blessed virgin in her womb—Mary. What makes Mary important? Why do we celebrate everything about her? And so, as I listen to the Homily given by a priest (who is new to me) there it struck me. I was never asked to make Mary my God or something like that. However, the Catholic Church reminds us all to remember how Mary showed her humility that she gave up her plans to fulfill God’s plan for her. She submitted herself to the Lord without asking questions. No whys, no buts. “I am the handmaid of the Lord; Let it be done according to His will.”

How many among us would enter a job without knowing the Job’s Description, salary, benefits, etc? How many would easily say “I’ll take the job.” not knowing what it really is? Do I hear a “hmmmm….”? Well, Mary was given a job without telling her where she will be assigned, the trials that she’d undergo, that she will be with a man and they’d have to cross boundaries, that her child would be killed!—yet she said “YES.”

And so with such faith, Catholics adore her. She knows that she is God’s servant. She has her free will, yet she lived her life serving the Lord. Catholics do not treat her as a god; we simply ask that we be granted faith like that of hers. Put it this way, we celebrate Mother’s Day, for the reason that we honor our mothers for their undying love for us, for their support to keep the light in the family, for their sacrifices. Is it significant? We do not question it because we know they deserve such honor. This situation is just the same as celebrating the Immaculate Conception, Mary’s birth, Saints’ day.  We simply honor the mother of our Savior—Jesus Christ. My faith gives honor to those who deserve it and we try our best to live a life like theirs (Mary, saints, Christ). We ask for a heart like theirs, that we may be made worthy for the Kingdom. We ask that we be blessed.

Is it too late then to renew our lives? No, nothing is ever too late. We can always renew our lives as long as we live. That’s why we should treat each day as our last. How can we be blessed? Well, that is simple, by accepting Christ as our Savior. We should be lowly. We should accept our flaws and ask that we be given a path that leads to salvation. We should accept that we have sinned and reconcile with the father. Prayer is the best way to communicate with God—you have to believe that HE hears you and even before you ask, He already knows your desires and needs. All he asks is for us to turn to Him and know that He is forever King in our hearts.

It will never be EASY. I am still struggling. But struggling is better than accepting defeat. Let God work miracles in you. Pray to our Mother that she will help in guiding you to our Father. Lost, don’t fret! For the Lord will always look for you. You may not know it, but He is. Like a shepherd tending to His lamb. Do not run away—you might fall into trouble. It is such a wonderful blessing to feel God.

 “Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall open.” Keep your faith. God bless.