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| Statue of Mary by the Friars' Cemetery at MSF |
Then shall you know that I, the LORD, am your God,
dwelling on Zion, my holy mountain;
Jerusalem shall be holy,
and strangers shall pass through her no more.
And then, on that day,
the mountains shall drip new wine,
and the hills shall flow with milk....
dwelling on Zion, my holy mountain;
Jerusalem shall be holy,
and strangers shall pass through her no more.
And then, on that day,
the mountains shall drip new wine,
and the hills shall flow with milk....
Judah shall abide forever,
and Jerusalem for all generations....
The LORD dwells in Zion.
and Jerusalem for all generations....
The LORD dwells in Zion.
Today’s gospel encourages our devotion to Jesus’ mother; she most certainly “heard the word of God and observed it.” As an “administrator of the mysteries of God” I peer through the mystery of her presence in the gospels to see the New Jerusalem. Mary is that holy city, that virgin church who never sinned; in her house disciples of Jesus rediscover holiness, innocence and purity. Their virginity is restored.
Saint Maximillian Kolbe called Mary the embodiment of the Holy Spirit; she “incarnates” that Trinitarian Mystery which always was, is and ever shall be holy, innocent and dynamic. She knows our sins of course; she was there on Calvary! But she does not regard them; rather she sees as a mother the inherent goodness with which we’re born; which is never entirely lost.
Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall pass through her no more. We have a saying about some affable people, “She never met a stranger.” Such is the hospitality of the New Jerusalem. Although the wicked cannot abide there – even in the unlikely event they might want to – all people are welcome.
It is not hard to see the maternal imagery of Zechariah’s mountains dripping new wine and his hills flowing with milk. Whether we imagine a nursing mother, a mountain overgrown with orchards, a prosperous city, or Heaven we know they speak of God’s abundant generosity.
The church reminds us of God’s promises through Mary’s fertile, inexhaustible virginity. She is purifying and nourishing, generous and free, satisfied within herself and satisfying to those who love her, both God and man. She is the promise of what the Church shall be when the work of our salvation is complete.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.