MEDITATION 18
THE ESPOUSAL OF OUR LADY
THE ESPOUSAL OF OUR LADY
Traditionally Our Lady is believed to have remained in the Temple from the age of three until She was fifteen, when, according to the Jewish custom She was betrothed by order and arrangements of the priests to St. Joseph. Since everything that Mary did cannot but be a matter of instruction for us, let us today see what we can learn from Her at this moment of Her life.
1. Trust in God.
This is the first lesson. Inspired by God, Our Lady had in His honor made a vow of virginity. By this vow She had renounced the very possibility of marriage and this only to conform to the will of God. Now in the name of God the priests tell Her that the divine will is that She should get married. What would anyone else have done in such a case? How difficult it is for us to divest ourselves of our opinions and especially, of course, when we are perfectly convinced that we are right.
See, instead, the most prudent behavior of our Heavenly Mother. Nobody could be more sure than She that Her vow of virginity was from God. Nor could She doubt that, humanly speaking, marriage and the vow were absolutely incompatible. What could She do? Should She insist on Her point and disregard that of the priests? She obeys and trusts. This is the solution. A blind obedience and boundless trust in God. It was His work. It was He who allowed the obstacles and the contradictions. It was for Him to straighten them out. What an example for us! A difficult one, no doubt, but beautiful, sublime, pleasing to God. Do you not instead argue and doubt and pass judgment regarding the orders and suggestions of your superiors? See how little you resemble Mary in this regard.
[From 'Marian Meditations' Book]
1. Trust in God.
This is the first lesson. Inspired by God, Our Lady had in His honor made a vow of virginity. By this vow She had renounced the very possibility of marriage and this only to conform to the will of God. Now in the name of God the priests tell Her that the divine will is that She should get married. What would anyone else have done in such a case? How difficult it is for us to divest ourselves of our opinions and especially, of course, when we are perfectly convinced that we are right.
See, instead, the most prudent behavior of our Heavenly Mother. Nobody could be more sure than She that Her vow of virginity was from God. Nor could She doubt that, humanly speaking, marriage and the vow were absolutely incompatible. What could She do? Should She insist on Her point and disregard that of the priests? She obeys and trusts. This is the solution. A blind obedience and boundless trust in God. It was His work. It was He who allowed the obstacles and the contradictions. It was for Him to straighten them out. What an example for us! A difficult one, no doubt, but beautiful, sublime, pleasing to God. Do you not instead argue and doubt and pass judgment regarding the orders and suggestions of your superiors? See how little you resemble Mary in this regard.
[From 'Marian Meditations' Book]
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