Tonight marks my third Sunday here at the seminary and with my current state it is timely or rather God's providence that I was tasked to give a sermonette in honor of our Lady, the most faithful. I believe that a lot of our present practices are made possible due to Mary's faithfulness.
In the wedding at the Cana, should Mary hesitated to tell her Son "they have no more wine" we would not have withnessed Jesus' first miracle. That as Christ turned water into wine we are reminded that the religion is not avoiding defilement but rather receiving from Jesus the spirit which breaks us from the established norms and the narrowness of our own knowledge and learning. In the same manner that we seminarians should find a deeper value in our structure-bound activities. Our motivation should lie on internalization more than compliance.
Canticle of Mary is the one of vespers' highlight to which the whole world are enjoined in praying everyday. And this prayer came from our Mother's heart seeing her cousin Elizabeth in one of the church's mystery – the Visitation. Our journey as religious are meant to have tons of temptations not be humble. May every work and deeds of ours be a true prayer of our soul being grateful to the only Source of accomplishment Jesus Christ.
It could have not been possible without the journals of St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila and the most recently Mother Teresa of Calcutta that the world would have known of the dark night of a soul - the greatest challenge of faithfulness. It is when one does not experience the Presence of God and yet they have conquered such pain by their devotion to our Lady. Mama Mary may have guided them to inscribe every experience, sad and joyful, for them and the Church to look back and be reminded that through our human uncertainness, She and Her Son is always there, always loving us, always faithful.
During the birthday celebration of DB Mandaluyong Rector Fr. Eli Cruz, SDB, I was inspired with how his conferrers gave him such respect through a song. Respect that was liberated from his daily living by example. And I hope I can be like this person. (PLAY "Find us faithful" by Steve Green).
Mama Mary's motivation to help, humbleness to prayer and remindful legacy pave the way for Her to be the most faithful servant of God. And as we celebrate her Feast of Assumption, our Mother made to life Don Bosco's motto: Work, Bread, Life and we too can also take part of it – by being FAITHFUL
Find us Faithful by Steve Green
We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road
And those who've gone before us line the way
Cheering on the faithful, encouraging the weary
Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace
Surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses
Let us run the race not only for the prize
But as those who've gone before us
Let us leave to those behind us
The heritage of faithfulness passed on through godly lives
CHORUS:
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
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