Kuwait City, 28 June 2014
Homily of the Apostolic Nuncio
His Grace Archbishop Petar Rajič
Lam 2:2, 10-14, 18-19; Lk 2:41-51
The Blessed Virgin Mary holds a special place in the hierarchy of believers and is always considered a model and an image of the Church. Today we are celebrating the Mass dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which presents Mary as a woman who believed and meditated in her heart on the message and the works of God.
There is not much written in the New Testament on Mary, but what the evangelist Luke did write are words full of spirit and mystery, which present the unique and magnificent vocation of Mary. St. Luke wrote about the Mother of Jesus as follows: His mother treasured all these things in her heart. Mary is presented as a woman who first of all believes in God. She was the only one chosen from all the other women of the world for the unique vocation of becoming the Mother of God. She was prepared beforehand by the Holy Spirit for the arrival of the Son of God, in order to become a dwelling place of Christ and the Mother of God. However, she is presented simply as the mother of Jesus in the Gospel. Her vocation was to become a mother, a very special mother, who was to bring to the world the Saviour of mankind, and to become the mother of all believers, of all those who believe in Jesus. Mary then, is not only a model for us, but it is also much more. She is our mother, because she leads us to her son Jesus and intercedes for us before God.
Mary kept all these things. She did not forget the great works of the Lord in the history of her people, nor the things that she had experienced in her life. Instead, Mary kept all these things. What a fine example for all of us. Our human weakness and the daily difficulties that we encounter may distract us at times and we can easily forget the great things the Lord has done for us in the past; for answered prayers, graces received and all the many consolations. It happens that sometimes we forget the promises of the Lord. Therefore, the example of Mary who treasured all these things in her heart is a good one for us and a great comfort and inspiration. God makes himself known even today. All that is required is to have an open heart to recognize his presence in us and others.
Mary kept all this in her heart. The heart remains the favorite dwelling place of the Lord. He manifests Himself through the Holy Spirit and speaks from his heart to our heart. Even Mary had to grow in the knowledge of the divine identity of Jesus. This is why she was to take all the things concerning Jesus to her heart.
God is always present and active in our lives. He manifested himself to Mary in a special way and he continues to reveal himself to us through the inner inspirations of the Holy Spirit. By maintaining a pure and open heart capable of receiving God’s grace, we too can grow in the power of the Holy Spirit, and become witnesses of God in the world, which will lead us to live in his glory one day, along with Jesus and Mary, for all eternity.
