A MOTHER’S LOVE

When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. – Luke 2:45

Flora has not spoken to her son Andy for more than 10 years. For her, it was a matter of selfpreservation.
      Every time Andy shouted at her, or shunned her attention, or rejected something she offered, she built up the wall around her heart to protect herself against the hurt. In time, the wall became impenetrable, and although they lived in the same house, they barely even looked at one another.
      That is, until the day she received a call from the hospital saying that Andy was involved in a serious accident. Steeling herself against further rejection, she went inside his hospital room to find that he already had several visitors. When Andy saw her, he said to the others, “This is my mother,” and that was all it took to melt her hardened heart.
       I realize that it’s not just Flora, but all of us who, in one way or another, choose to remember past hurts, false first impressions, malicious gossips, and various negative traits of others. May we learn to have a heart like Mary’s, treasuring memories that build up, rather than tear down, our relationships. Cecille L.

REFLECTION:
Are the treasures you keep in your heart making you rich, or are they weighing you down?

Mama Mary, teach us how to have a heart full of love for your Son and for each other.

P S A L M 

1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8 or Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12

R: My heart exults in the Lord, my savior.

1 My heart exults in the LORD, my horn is exalted in my God. I have swallowed up my enemies; I rejoice in my victory. (R) 4 The bows of the mighty are broken, while the tottering gird on strength. 5 The well-fed hire themselves out for bread, while the hungry batten on spoil. The barren wife bears seven sons, while the mother of many languishes. (R) 6 The LORD puts to death and gives life; he casts down to the nether world; he raises up again. 7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich, he humbles, he also exalts. (R) 8 He raises the needy from the dust; from the ash heap he lifts up the poor, To seat them with nobles and make a glorious throne their heritage. (R)

G O S P E L

Luke 2:41-51 or Matthew 5:33-37

One of the biblical images of the heart is that it is the place where we store the good things of our lives. The problem is that we can also allow regrets and resentments and hurts to dwell there as well. The choice is ours! Let us pray for the grace to be able to let go of all the things that hurt us and allow those that will help us to grow in love to abide and remain as the formative aspects of our hearts’ desires.
  
41 Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, 42 and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom. 43 After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it. 44 Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions, 47 and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers. 48 When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 50 But they did not understand what he said to them. 51 He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.

my reflections
think: In Mary, whose Immaculate Heart we celebrate today, God found a woman whose heart and mind were one with His and obedient to Him in all things.
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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________

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T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Proverbs 17-20