Faithful Servant

Dear Sisters,
At the St. Steven's Book Club we are undertaking consecration to Mary using 33 Days to Morning Glory by Micheal E. Gaitley, MIC. as our conduit. With a crazy holiday schedule, I've only been able to make one meeting. Keeping up with the readings while challenging during this busy time leading up to Christmas was rewarding too.

I blogged about my last experience with consecration.  I was very ill throughout most of the consecration.  I didn't get well in fact until I made the last vow at an evening mass.  Even the ride to the church was ominous as the clouds were gathering and the sky became very threatening with the winds blowing. We've discussed among ourselves how suffering usually comes with the consecration. Our Deacon fell down a flight of stairs and was hurting mightily, one sister had leg pain, another had sciatica pain that was excruciating, one sister almost lost her beloved pet.  During this consecration it seemed that obstacles were constantly in my way of being able to join the group and as the days of completing the journey were approaching, I was hit with a debilitating bout of allergies that made it nearly impossible to breath or sleep.  One day in particular I coughed so violently I thought I had cracked a rib.

How the devil must hate when we commit ourselves to the Immaculata.  Imagine how much he hates Our Blessed Mother; this lowly creature that gave birth to the son of God! She a queen?  He could never serve her so he hates all of us that commit to doing just that!  As we commit ourselves to her, he makes our life a misery.  He hopes that we will stop the journey.  He doesn't want us under her mantle of protection and doing her will.  I've noticed that even the weather has once more reacted to the fact that we are nearly at the end of the journey.  The skies are once more grey and it looks like it will be raining for days.  Coincidence?  Although it does rain in Phoenix, it doesn't usually rain this many days in a row at this time of year.  But what can he do to keep us from saying YES to Our Lady?  Yes!  I'll be your faithful servant!

A reflection in Week 4 of the consecration in our books struck me mightily.  It came from Saint Pope John Paul II...of course!  In the bible account of the wedding feast in Cana, Mary as the ultimate mother is the very first person to notice that there is no wine.  Such a small detail really, but she's alert to the needs of others and notices this situation.  Her "Do whatever He tells you..." is directed at the servants.  As a result of their faithful obedience to Jesus, to fill the jars with water...they were the very first humans to see the power of God manifested in his Son!

Mary needs servants who obey her and thereby obey Jesus!  If we can do this concretely, every day of our lives, we WILL see the power of Jesus manifested in our lives and the lives of all we love.

Dear Mother,
I will be your faithful servant. I will do as you ask as I know that this will always lead me to Jesus. And I will become a conduit of the Lord's love in this small little patch of the Earth that I inhabit.  I accept you as my Queen and my Mother!  Do with me what you will!

Yours!