LIFE AT NAZARETH4. Our Model.
Mary is the model who teaches us to know, to study, to contemplate Jesus. Consider Her in those continuous meditations. Jesus absorbs the whole of Her activity, Her entire life, every minute of Her day. And how could it be otherwise? She had before Her eyes the dearest object of Her heart. When She looked in the face of Her Son, She saw in Him God. She would rejoice in the charms of Her Baby; in later years She would joy in the manly beauty of Christ Adolescent.
How Her motherly heart would rejoice on seeing the divine Baby sleeping quietly in His poor cradle! She could contemplate that adorable face, kiss it, know every inch of it. In that little Child, so poor and so helpless, She would ever see the Infinite, the Eternal, the Omnipotent, the Majestic, the Uncreated Wisdom of the Godhead. Step by step She watched the development and growth of that most holy humanity. She could see how the face of Jesus would become more and more like Hers. Everybody in Nazareth would tell Her so. And Her heart would jump with ineffable joy whenever anyone remarked how the Baby was like His Mother. Oh, happiest of mothers!
And how Her heart corresponded to those lovely remarks! How She would draw from them sentiments of admiration, of joy, of love and praise; of gratitude to God for having made Her, God's handmaid, to be the Mother of His Son! What prayers would She then raise to God for all men and also for you! She unceasingly offered Herself up to Jesus for us; while too She offered us all to Jesus, imploring countless graces for us.
Finally, to the Eternal Father She would offer Her Jesus for the salvation of mankind. Thus did Mary occupy Herself during the thirty years of Her life at Nazareth. Devote your meditation to this intimate life of the Mother and the Child. Beg of them a little corner that you may share in the silence, the peace, the happiness of Nazareth. Ask Jesus that since you are also a child of Mary you too may take after Her. Ask the grace of imitating Him, that studying Jesus you may know, love and serve Him as Mary did. That He should fill your mind and your heart, and become the sole aim and object of your life.
[Excerpted from 'MARIAN MEDITATIONS' Book by Rev. Dr. Ildefonso R. Villar, Salesian Philippine Province, Nihil Obstat; Imprimatur]
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