Mary mother of hope

Novena Day VI The Mother of God Hope finds its supreme witness in the Mother of God. In the Blessed Virgin, we see that hope is not naive optimism but a gift of grace amid the realities of life. We are faced with a great deal of suffering in the world today, and in the face of suffering, hope can falter. When we look around us, we see many people who are discouraged, full of doubt and very pessimistic about the future. Many people who are discouraged and hopelessly turn to things that offer temporary or false hope: drugs, pleasure, power or other addictions. What could possibly bring us happiness, some ask? Can we find any reasons to bring hope in our hopeless world? As Catholic Christians we can turn the daughter of good Saint Anne, we look to Mary she can teach us what it means to hope. The book of Revelation gives us an image of Mary, the “woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Rev. 12:1). Mary is the image of Jesus’ victory over evil. The vision, like our theme in this jubilee year reminds us that we are pilgrims, and our destiny is the kingdom of heaven. By virtue of our baptism, we are pilgrims on a journey, hoping to achieve our final destiny to be in communion with God for all of eternity. While on this journey, there will always be a struggle between grace and sin, between good and evil, between life and death. While on this pilgrimage, we must face trials and bear suffering on our earthly pilgrimage. We need an image of hope. Hope is the virtue of those who, experiencing the struggle between life and death, or good and evil continue to forge ahead because they believe in the resurrection of Christ and in the triumph of love. Jesus has triumphed over death, Good Friday was not the end. Mary, is the first, greatest and perfect disciple of her Son. Jesus associated with himself in glory the woman who said Yes to the Word becoming Flesh for our salvation. Mary assumed into heaven is the image of the future God intends for us. She is a sign of the Resurrection, a promise of the future glory we all hope to enjoy one day. She is the sign of hope, the proof of Christ’s merciful love, the first among the redeemed. Today we turn our eyes in her direction, where the one who preceded us on the path, reminds all of us that our life is also a continuous journey towards final union with the Lord. We also hope to follow her when our earthly life is over. “Christian hope does not deceive or disappoint because it is grounded in the certainty that nothing and no one may ever separate us from God’s love: “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or the sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:35.37-39).” In the beginning of Luke’s Gospel chapter 1, verse 46 we have the great Magnificat, Mary’s song of hope. Let us look at the context of that reading. Mary, a teenage girl has just been asked to be the mother of God. She is a virgin, betrothed to Joseph but she did not have any relations with him. Imagine if you will that circumstance, but what does Mary say, “yes, be it done unto me according to your word.” At the same time she found out that her cousin was also pregnant. And unlike Mary Elizabeth is elderly, she is past child bearing age and has never had a child. Guess that she is between 40-60 years old. So we have this scene of two women whom had never been pregant; one who was 13 the other 50. Elizabeth is thrilled that her young cousin has come to help her and when she embraces Mary the child leaps in her womb for joy! Elizabeth responds with the second part of the Hail Mary, “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” And Mary responds with the beautiful prayer of the Magnificat. Mary’s song of joy is not the typical song of joy of a pregnant mother. Her song of Joy is one of hope. Hope in the power of God. Hope in a God in whom all things are possible. In this jubilee year we are called to be pilgrims of hope. 48 he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; Mary realizes that God has chosen her because of her lowliness. She knows that she has been chosen not because she is well born or comes from power and money, she has no fancy college degree or profession of any kind. Mary was chosen because of the opposite. Because she is lowly. She is nothing. This realization begins this great prayer of hope. She praises God, 49The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age But that she quickly gets into what God will do. 51 “He will disperse the arrogant and he will thrown down the rulers from their thrones. But at the same he will 52 lift up the lowly.” Rulers don’t usually need hope. When you have power and influence you tend to trust yourself and your possessions. The poor, the sick and the needy, they are the ones who have hope, they have hope in God because they have no one else. 53The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. People who are hungry are one’s who hope. They hope that someone will give them something. They hope that they will find something in the next trash can. I have especially learned about hope from people who are sick. The wealthy put their trust in medicine, doctors and hospitals as well they should. There is nothing wrong with good medical care and all should have a right to it. But those who don’t have access to medical care turn to God first and foremost. Unfortunately, many of us learn this at the last moment. When the doctor says, “There is nothing more that we can do.” That is when they turn to the Lord in prayer. 54He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy. Mary called upon the help of God. As a poor, pregnant girl Mary’s hope was in the Mercy of God alone. “Hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Rom. 5:1-2.5). Mother Mary has walked the journey of faith and already entered the heavenly glory. She however continues to walk with us. She accompanies us on our journey and sustains us in our fight against the forces of evil. We are “Pilgrims of Hope”. One of the signs of hope is faith and the desire for justice and peace in our world. In her song, Mary recounts God’s justice throughout history, and declares that God’s restoration is coming soon. Her song makes clear that this justice is not just for the few. It is most especially for the hungry and the lowly. The poor and as Pope Francis always reminded us, “those on the margins.” The song also warns the powerful that God is going to bring about changes that will shake up the world order. The justice of God will bring restoration to feed the hungry, to liberate the oppressed, to rebuild the broken, and to bring peace among all people. Pope Francis called for the Year of the Jubilee to be an opportunity for us to be ‘tangible signs of hope for those of our brothers and sisters who experience hardships of any kind’. Together let us pray: “Deliver us, Lord, from every evil, and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ”. Mary Mother of Hope, pray for us. 2