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...Do What He Tells You
Haiti: Fortress In The Sky[summer of 1986] Let me give you a little background before I get into the actual site. I went to Haiti, nineteen of us flew into .....
The wedding celebration in Cana was in full swing. Joy and
celebration filled the air. There was a deep sense of kinship
among the guests. There was happy music and spirited dance.
There was also an acute shortage of wine.
Since wedding festivities typically went on for several days,
great embarrassment was on the horizon. Mary quietly advised her
Son of the predicament. Knowing the profound import of her next
words, she issued a simple directive to the servants to "...do
whatever he tells you" (Jn 2:5). Moments later, heaven touched
earth.
From the moment she spoke, Mary knew that Jesus would no longer
be able to blend quietly into village life. She started her Son
on his mission with no idea what that mission entailed. She knew
not of the master plan God had crafted from the dawn of time -
the coming rejection, suffering and death that would be the
price of salvation. She was unaware of the depths of divine
mercy. She only knew that God was in charge and it was not
important that she understand, only that she trust.
We never hear from Mary again in Scripture. Throughout the years
of her Sons earthly ministry, none of her words are recorded.
Accounts of his passion and death noted only her presence, but
no consoling prayer, anguished cry or stinging rebuke directed
at his persecutors. Descriptions of Jesuss miraculous
Resurrection offered no mention of his mothers reaction. Even
the narrative of his Ascension included no reference to a
parting dialogue or simple goodbye between mother and Son.
Some might think Mary was slighted by the inspired authors of
Sacred Scripture. Others might feel that she was rightly
overshadowed by her divine Son. Still others contend that her
scriptural silence, in itself, possessed vast theological
implications.
Perhaps another insight merits consideration. Maybe the Blessed
Mother said all that needed to be said. While her command to the
servants saved her wedding host much embarrassment, it was only
a means to an end. Her directive was infused with a
The Great Pyramid - Part TwoThe location of the Great Pyramid at the centre of the Earth's land masses, unless it is truly a coincidence, implies the following. First ..... transcendence far beyond Cana. As any good mother would do, Mary
offered all her children loving, yet firm, parental guidance.
Quite simply, her last recorded words made clear the way to
salvation.
Through the bewildered wedding servants, she reminds all
generations of Christians to "...do whatever he tells you." No
other message is necessary. No other instruction more profound.
Mary quietly passes into the shadows of Scripture making sure
her children know what she expects of them. Her haunting words
continually remind us of the simplicity of the Christian faith.
All we have to do is follow the path her Son carefully laid out,
which is to serve the world through his bride, the Church.
Marys words penetrate deep into the hallways of the heart. They
imbed in the fabric of the soul. Despite such presence, we often
fail miserably at living up to the Blessed Mothers simple
mandate. Why does honoring the "whatever" part of Marys
instruction demand so much? Maybe its because she knows her
divine Son accepts nothing less than all we have to give. He
sets the bar at perfection. He is not interested in lukewarm
faith or partial commitment. He has no time for minimalism. His
is an unrelenting challenge, one which never stops asking for
more.
Its not as if we havent been given the proper tools for the
job. Jesus took special care to remind us of faiths foundation
in the Ten Commandments. He presented the Beatitudes so that we
understood what it meant to die to self. He rounded out our
understanding of the Christian mission through parables,
discourses and miracles. Then he died to show us that love has
no limits. Perpetual lessons taught through the power of a life
perfectly lived.
Those lessons should give us pause. When I closed that last
business deal, did I comply with his instruction to do unto
others as I would want done to myself? When suffering came my
way, did I take up the cross without whining? When praise was
proffered, did I divert the spotlight to the true giver of the
skill being praised? In the midst of tragedy, did I attempt to
discern Gods will among the ruins? How close did I come each
Get FocusedAre you frustrated? Are you tired of going around and around the same mountain of problems ..... day to honoring the "whatever" part of Marys message?
In our childhood we learned to obey our mother, honor her place
in the family, and respect her counsel. Mother guided,
corrected, and cajoled as necessary to draw out the best in each
of us. Often she only needed a single word or a telling glance
and we understood exactly what instruction she wished to impart.
Her messages, always, were infused with a love that was utterly
impossible to comprehend. Well, our heavenly mother has spoken.
She has given us the most crucial advice in the history of the
world. Across the ages, our Blessed Mother has reminded us to
"do whatever He tells you." We would be wise to take her advice
to heart.
About the author:
Gary Shirley, his wife, and three children are members of St.
Catherine of Siena Parish in Kennesaw, Georgia, where Gary
serves as catechist in the adult education program. Gary is an
Archdiocese of Atlanta certified catechist (both PSR and RCIA)
with 14 years teaching experience. Email him at
backtothebasics@searchlogixgroup.com.
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