Sunday, June 15, 2008 Luab: A tribute to Our Lady By Evelyn R. Luab light sunday
TODAY we are celebrating the feast of our Mother of Perpetual Help. Redemptorist church in Cebu City has been overflowing with people ever since the start of the nine-day novena leading to her feast started.
We are “full of many needs.” Because our mother of Perpetual Help has been most generous with her answers to our pleas, we join in gratitude the procession today.
Allow me to look back. Ever since I can remember, my picture of Mother Mary has always been that of a woman of great strength in a soul of a humble disciple of Christ.
The movie The passion of Christ, directed and produced by Mel Gibson, shows a scene where the child Jesus stumbled and fell. One sees Mother Mary on her way to help Him up. I suppose she would cuddle Him and kiss away the hurts. A very ordinary, human response of a mother to a loved one.
I also picture Mother Mary as patiently preparing food, washing dishes, keeping house for her family and even sewing buttons on St. Joseph’s shirts. Nothing spectacular, but all tasks done in silent loving ways.
At the wedding in Cana, her instinctive compassion for the bride and groom who were running out of wine made her come out to speak to her son expecting help, not even pleading for it. She plainly stated: “Son, they have no more wine.” Her trust in her Son came out in her statement to the servants: “Do whatever He commands.” Such faith!
Placing the problem in Jesus’ hands, she was sure everything would be all right.
Mother Mary was never one for limelight hugging. Silently she followed her Son up the road to Calvary, not wringing her hands, or wailing her pain but steadfast in her presence up the hill.
One cannot possibly fathom what went on in her mind. You and I would probably shout our anguish to God the Father and beg for mercy for a son we so loved and nurtured.
She stood calmly at the foot of the cross to wait for her son’s death. She remained till the end. When Jesus said to John, “Son this is your mother. Mary this is your Son,” I wonder what went on in her mind. We would probably have broken down in tears. She knew her son was near death, yet His thought was still of her and the remaining years of her life by leaving her in the hands of someone younger who would help take care of her. She also knew what Jesus meant.
John represented us. Up to this day, Mother Mary has not been remiss in taking care of us (her Johns) as we raise our pleas for help to her.
Before the day is over, it really would be nice (for a change) for us to do the giving. If you have the facility to drop by any place of worship, do so. Bring a rose for Mother Mary. No mother would turn her nose up on a thing of beauty. I’m sure she would love that. Actually, we would be more elated with happiness than Mother Mary by this act of giving.
How nice it would be for Mother Mary to hear from us, these words:
Mother, it is with love that we greet you today. May we place our heads on your breast as you cuddle us close to your heart.
Mother, we always feel safe when we feel your arms around us. We know that you will never stop loving us. John’s arms as he protectively placed them around your shoulders must have felt strong as you leaned in your grief.
Mother, we have felt your protective arms around us, countless of times as we leaned on you for support. Thank you. There may have been times when our requests were not good for us. How your heart must have grieved to see us repeat and repeat our requests with so much zeal. For those times, we beg forgiveness.
Thank you for the love you hold in your heart for us. We love you, Mother Mary. Happy Feast Day!”
