The Miracle of Mary's Mess

One of my favorite adoration chapels is at St. Isaacs Parish in Wayne, Pa. I frequent this quiet sanctuary a few times a week—the best weeks are when I can steal away every day. Today’s reflection had me fixated on the Blessed Mother’s face and her overall heavenly appearance. Appearances can be so deceiving right?

At Mass this week, the readings focused on the Pharisees and how they were continually trying to catch Jesus acting in
a way that could get Him arrested. They questioned and taunted him relative to the appearances of the law and the expectations of the many Jewish rules, but they failed to see the value of being kind and generous in their hearts to those around them. Jesus did not approve.

Mary’s face spoke to me today in this image. She just had to be an emotional mess. The agony of seeing a child crucified. She’s dressed perfectly, nothing about her countenance in this image is earthly. In the real world as a carpenter’s wife; she was anything but perfectly cloaked. Life was messy for her too. As I focused on her expression towards her Son; I felt her pain. I felt she wanted me to know this today that she is able to help us through our pain as well. She’s been there.

As I prayed my rosary I imaged her thinking, “how is this possible and why did He have to suffer like this?” She looks like she’s in complete shock and disbelief. That’s what we’d be feeling. She did all the right things. She was obedient, humble, prayerful and trusting, but she still had to suffer this unimaginable loss of her son. She had to possibly imagine in her humanity--could there have been a less violent way for Him to leave her?

She didn’t plan out her future to be Queen of Heaven in some calculating way. She simply loved God and gave Him her “yes”. She did not question her Heavenly Father. That yes entailed pain and suffering, but the future was heavenly.

Sometimes there are miracles in the mess. Today, I embrace my own messiness and in the quietness of this adoration chapel I was able to feel peace in all areas of my discernment for the day. This stained glass window image was indeed worth a thousand words.