Before beginning our first conference this evening, I would like to begin by dedicating this retreat to our Blessed Mother, under the title of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. As Carmelites we love Mary. She is always with us in all of our thoughts, words and actions.
If we could look at her early years when she was visited by the Angel Gabriel, when perhaps she was about 16 years old, we would see a young girl who was totally open to whatever God would ask of her in the future. She said to God and the angel, be it done to me according to thy word. The future was only revealed to her a little at a time, piece meal. Her understanding of her role as mother of the Savior of all mankind grew through the years. There were periods of light, but also periods of darkness in which she had to totally trust.
As soon as she got the good news that Elizabeth, her kinswoman was pregnant, Mary left immediately to visit her. The trip of over a hundred miles was not easy for a young girl . Mary wanted to help
When we pray the Joyful mysteries we realize that all was not joy and happiness for Mary. In the temple when Jesus was only 40 days old, Simeon predicted that this child would be rejected and a sign of contradiction and also that the heart of Mary would be pierced with a sword of sorrow. Soon after, Joseph had to take the child and his mother into
And that is the point I would like to emphasize tonight - that Mary pondered all these things in her heart. To ponder means to meditate upon and to pray over in order to come to a deeper meaning.. When Mary did this, it was slowly revealed to her the deeper meaning of God's word to her. We are here for retreat for the next couple of days. Let us unite our hearts with Mary's, imitating her trust in the Lord. Let us also ponder over God's word and what it means to us as pilgrims on the way to our destiny, the
Fr. Marvin Deutsch, M.M.
June 12, 2009
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