Daily Reflections ...

Mary lived out her identity as a Christian perfectly. She carried Jesus within her and she loved him as herself. With all her heart, soul, mind, and strength she nourished the divine life within her and brought it to maturity. She bore Jesus, the fruit from her womb, and nourished him to adulthood. From there she encouraged him to go out and to do God’s will as she continued to do God’s will herself.

This is an encouragement for our own Christian lives. Through our baptism we too bear Jesus within us, and are called to love the Christ within us in the same way Mary did. With our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, we are called to let the divine life within us flourish and come to maturity. From there we are called to go out and bear fruit that will last (John 15:8), and to raise up disciples who go throughout the world doing God’s will and bearing fruit themselves (Matthew 28:19-20).

This is the goal of the Christian life, and it is greatly assisted by reading scripture and believing the words of Jesus. One who hears the words of Christ, and who truly believes them, does not remain the same. This is how the work of God is accomplished in this world, as we live our “commitment to build with him that kingdom of love, justice and universal peace” (GE, 25).

By David Kruse