Have You Talked to Your Mother Today? - Chris Padgett
Have you asked Jesus what he thinks of his mother? I have a feeling Jesus is not threatened by us loving the very mother he loves entirely.
Have you talked to the Blessed Mother today?
If you are Catholic, this question generates possible feelings of affection and devotion. If you’re not Catholic, this question seems unnecessary, if not heretical.
Why not just directly speak to Jesus? Why ask Mary for anything? Why include her in the prayer mix, especially when we can, and should go directly to Jesus—who is our Savior. If these thoughts and questions come to you, maybe you should consider this question as well: Why not ask Jesus what he thinks of his mother?
Jesus isn’t threatened by his brothers and sisters loving the mother he loves. He isn’t in competition with us, worried we will usurp the favor of Mary. Jesus is leading by example as to how to best love and honor her, thus fulfilling the fourth commandment. When we do so, he is not threatened; rather he is please that we have followed his example.
For some strange reason, we assume that there is a limited amount of honor, power, and favor that God shares, and to gain any such favor from Mary, we have somehow played unfair and taken what wasn’t ours to take.
This is nonsense. God is family, and this family relationship is like a fountain, not like a pie. There isn’t a limited amount of requests we can ask. God is not a vending machine, dispensing favor and blessing only if we place a quarter in the slot. Actually, He is a family that functions where brothers and sisters (the saints) wish to help us so that we can be of an even greater impact for God’s glory to those around us. Do we get less aid and favor because a saint helps us? No. They are tapped into the endless fountain of God.
The way God’s sharing of his glory works is not a set amount of favor that is depleted when it is given, in the way a piece of pie shared reduces the whole; rather, it is a flowing fountain we all can share in, drinking our fill.
We can access this fountain of grace and mercy on our own, through the sacraments and prayer, but we can also ask the saints to help. If we want to be like Jesus, we can, and should, ask Mary for aid, since she is able to direct this ocean of grace into our situation as only a mother can. Mary is not in competition with Jesus. It is more fitting to say Mary is taking the fullness of what she’s been given in the presence of God and aiding us, her children, in loving her Son. Mary is doing all she is called to do as mother and follower of Jesus. Why do we assume that Mary’s maternity somehow minimizes her devotion and dedication to the mission of her Son? If anything, her maternity maximizes her devotion and dedication to her Son’s mission. When we ask her to help, when we talk to Mary, we are following the example of Jesus.
So, have you talked to your mother today? If not, why? Ask Jesus what he thinks of Mary. I am sure he would be proud of his younger brothers and sisters as they honored his mother in a similar manner as He. To honor Mary is to do what Jesus did. Try and love Mary more than Jesus does. You will never succeed, but wouldn’t it be great to come in second?
Have you talked to the Blessed Mother today?
If you are Catholic, this question generates possible feelings of affection and devotion. If you’re not Catholic, this question seems unnecessary, if not heretical.
Why not just directly speak to Jesus? Why ask Mary for anything? Why include her in the prayer mix, especially when we can, and should go directly to Jesus—who is our Savior. If these thoughts and questions come to you, maybe you should consider this question as well: Why not ask Jesus what he thinks of his mother?
Jesus isn’t threatened by his brothers and sisters loving the mother he loves. He isn’t in competition with us, worried we will usurp the favor of Mary. Jesus is leading by example as to how to best love and honor her, thus fulfilling the fourth commandment. When we do so, he is not threatened; rather he is please that we have followed his example.
For some strange reason, we assume that there is a limited amount of honor, power, and favor that God shares, and to gain any such favor from Mary, we have somehow played unfair and taken what wasn’t ours to take.
This is nonsense. God is family, and this family relationship is like a fountain, not like a pie. There isn’t a limited amount of requests we can ask. God is not a vending machine, dispensing favor and blessing only if we place a quarter in the slot. Actually, He is a family that functions where brothers and sisters (the saints) wish to help us so that we can be of an even greater impact for God’s glory to those around us. Do we get less aid and favor because a saint helps us? No. They are tapped into the endless fountain of God.
The way God’s sharing of his glory works is not a set amount of favor that is depleted when it is given, in the way a piece of pie shared reduces the whole; rather, it is a flowing fountain we all can share in, drinking our fill.
We can access this fountain of grace and mercy on our own, through the sacraments and prayer, but we can also ask the saints to help. If we want to be like Jesus, we can, and should, ask Mary for aid, since she is able to direct this ocean of grace into our situation as only a mother can. Mary is not in competition with Jesus. It is more fitting to say Mary is taking the fullness of what she’s been given in the presence of God and aiding us, her children, in loving her Son. Mary is doing all she is called to do as mother and follower of Jesus. Why do we assume that Mary’s maternity somehow minimizes her devotion and dedication to the mission of her Son? If anything, her maternity maximizes her devotion and dedication to her Son’s mission. When we ask her to help, when we talk to Mary, we are following the example of Jesus.
So, have you talked to your mother today? If not, why? Ask Jesus what he thinks of Mary. I am sure he would be proud of his younger brothers and sisters as they honored his mother in a similar manner as He. To honor Mary is to do what Jesus did. Try and love Mary more than Jesus does. You will never succeed, but wouldn’t it be great to come in second?
