Mary TV Daily Reflection 3/1/2013

 
(c)Josip Zubac 2013
Living Stones

          

J.M.J.      

March 1, 2013

 

Dear Family of Mary!

 

"Dear children! Also today I call you to prayer. May your prayer be as strong as a living stone, until with your lives you become witnesses. Witness the beauty of your faith. I am with you and intercede before my Son for each of you. Thank you for having responded to my call." (01/25/13)

 

Yesterday was an emotional day. Watching the departure of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI from the Vatican, knowing that he would vacate the Papacy in just 3 hours, was very sad. The reality of his brave decision was no longer escapable. And we gathered together all over the world to pray and to wait. What is God doing? What will become of the Church? We can only wait and pray. (Thank you to those who joined Denis and me on Mary TV at 2:00 pm to pray the rosary in solidarity with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. It was beautiful to pray together.)

 

That is why, it seems, Our Lady asked us to make our prayer as strong as a living stone. She knew, long before we did, that our Pope would renounce the Papacy for the good of the Church. She knew we would have to have strong faith, strong prayer, to assist the Church in this time of uncertainty and change.

 

We must be "living stones!" Yesterday, just before our Rosary, Kathleen from Vermont sent me this very remarkable paragraph from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It explains so well our job as "living stones":

 

756   "Often, too, the Church is called the building of God. The Lord compared himself to the stone which the builders rejected, but which was made into the corner-stone. On this foundation the Church is built by the apostles and from it the Church receives solidity and unity. This edifice has many names to describe it: the house of God in which his family dwells; the household of God in the Spirit; the dwelling-place of God among men; and, especially, the holy temple. This temple, symbolized in places of worship built out of stone, is praised by the Fathers and, not without reason, is compared in the liturgy to the Holy City, the New Jerusalem. As living stones we here on earth are built into it. It is this holy city that is seen by John as it comes down out of heaven from God when the world is made anew, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband." (CCC 756)

 

We are the Church, because we are built into it, as living stones! The Church will only be as strong as each of us! Our prayer, our faith, our hope, our love, must be strong if the Church is to remain strong. We are needed, especially at this time. We need to be witnesses (martyrs)! We need to reflect the beauty of Jesus and His love for all to see. We need to be strong as stone, ready to bear the weight of the times for the sake of God's plan in the world. God's plan is the Church! His plan to save souls is the Church. His plan is to spread His salvation through us, through our love, service, prayer, and witness.

 

So, Mother Church needs us now, as she waits for the new Pope. She needs us to hold her up in prayer and faith. We must be Living Stones, who can bear the weight.

 

In Jesus, Mary and Joseph!

Cathy Nolan
©Mary TV 2013