Mother Divine

"For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself."(Romans 14:7) Paul follows this up with its natural corollary;"Therefore whether we live or die we are the Lord's".(Rom 14:8). A person is either alive or dead. Hence the corollary. If one lives not to himself, then life suddenly becomes very complex. For the needs of a person living for himself are simple. But living for the Lord ! Here again, Mother, I need you to guide me. I have confessed to you so many times that I have no clue about the Lord. You are part of my being. Call me vain if you will, but I feel your son is not beyond my understanding either. But the Lord ! Immculate Mother, you bore the son of the Totality. You nursed him, brought him up, saw him crucified, heard the cry of utter despair-"Eli Eli..."(Mat 27:46). Were you living for the Lord ? I do not doubt that you were. But, Mother of my dreams, times are different now. In the world of today how would you have li

Mother, I know I am being selfish. But I need to ask you this. Show me a way out of my depression. I know there are millions like me and millions in more desperate conditions. But right now let me plead for myself.

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."(Mat 5:5) Which earth, Holy Mother ? I am sure you guided me to this famous statement with a definite purpose. Which Earth indeed. Surely not this, the third planet of the sun. Many are the meek who were killed just for trying to hang on to whatever little bit of land their family lived on. It has to be some other earth. May be some other planet of some other sun or maybe even some other galaxy or maybe even some other universe. I am not being cynical, Mother. But can it be the Kingdom of Heaven ? The phrases in Mat 5 leave me baffled. I am sure there are profound clues masked by the simplicity of the language. Or,Mother, have I misunderstood the meaning of the word meek ? What does meek mean ? Who is meek. Was your son meek ? Blessed, Meek, Inherit, Earth. Haunting words, apparently transparent and simple, yet so elusive. Inherit ! Maybe that is the word I should try to understand. What does inherit mean ? How does o

"For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious."(II Cor 3:11). Mother ! Yesterday you called me a "Hypocrite". Again. And today you give me this cryptic message ! I leave Corinthians and the author of the epistle. Instead I turn to you as my fountain of Wisdom. For who can know more than a woman and a mother. So I ask you, what is this glory you speak about ? What remains is more glorious than that which IS passing away. "IS" ? Is the glory still passing away ? How is that which remains more glorious ? Did not that which was Most Glorious return whence It emanated ?

And when he had said this he fell asleep (Acts 7:60). The miracle of language ! Death the friend welcomes Stephen to eternal rest and peace. To sleep for ever. Death as solace and the final liberation from all bonds of life including the heaviest burden of all - the body which must be fed, clothed and pampered, Sleep is but partial death from which one must reluctantly wake. Death, on the contrary, is the eternal merging of the isolated soul into its origin.

Divine Mother, You know everything. You know what I am What I seek, What I will never ever get. So Mother Dear, What shall I pray of thee. Nothing for me. Everything for this world. Thy kindness makes the world a better place. In spite of the greenhouse effect And the ozone hole. In spite of hurricanes and tsunamis In spite of wars and the economy Love this world Mother, For this word has only You to love it.

Healer of sorrows You make other sorrows Trivial with the burden of Your own unquenchable grief. Your fortitude emboldens All mankind. Blessed Mother of all creation Be our guide And mentor

When Prayers fail When the heart trembles When the unknown beckons You are my strength When I err When I fear When I doubt You are my belief When I rejoice When I sin When I wander You hold my rein

Mother I wonder about your mystery And I find myself wondering even more No Thought, no Reason can contain you I bow before you

Blessed Mother, Ever so caring Forever loving Before you I am nothing I ask for nothing You know everything, mother. Grant bountifully as you always do To your children Great and small. I do the only thing I can do. I say, Thank you for everything. Even your punishments Have the sweetness of a mother's admonitions. Thank you, mother of mankind. Glorious And sweet.

"The night is far spent. The day is at hand." (Romans 13:12). Mother dear, You told me this. Why ? I see nothing but darkness all around. Not a hint of dawn. Not a hint of light. Mother of Light, if it pleases you, Shed upon all The light of your beatitude, The light of your glory.

Divine Mother. I am confused And gnawed by doubts. Mother, You reside in me. I belong to you. Show me the way. My mind is numb. Thought leads me nowhere. Mother of all worlds You are beyond thought. Your ways are mysterious, Like that of your Son's Father. You baffle me. But be merciful. Do not taunt me so.

Does God have a choice ? Do I have a choice.

Now I understand why you called me a hypocrite (Luke 13:15). Unworthy as I am I sought to know the unknowable. Fathom the unfathomable. Understand that which cannot be understood. I, who cannot even face the travails of this mere world presumed to face the Ultimate. And then, day after day, I come wailing to you Seeking solace. You are right, Holy Mother. I am a hypocrite.

Holy Mother. Give me strength. My heart sprints out of control. And my mind is weak. I saw you on Golgotha, standing next to the beloved disciple. You were like a statue hewn of the finest marble. Not a tear besmirched your face. No groan distorted your silent grief. I saw the Myrrh-bearer weep holding bravely on to the foot of the cross. I saw fear, I smelt shame. But, glory to thee Madonna, you led by example. You heard and so do I, the final resignation in that voice of voices- It is over. You, the mother, who bore in yourself creation itself. I lack your strength. I lack your belief. I lack your instinctive knowledge of eternal truths. So I beg thee Mother, give me strength. Strength to bear the cross that is life, Till I too can leave this worthless shell behind.

"You did not choose me. I chose you". (John 15:16) Why did you choose me ? What did I do ? Why do you punish me so harshly ? This is a cross I cannot bear.

Holy Mother, you have taught me the meaning of the word "Sinner". I thank you. Now punish me, for I do not seek absolution.

Blessed Mother Beautiful and loving Unarmed but for a mother's unwavering Love. You look so utterly helpless Stricken and bereft of hope Mother of Mankind since the beginning. Is that why I love you so much. Holy Mother. Giver of eternal hope And everlasting peace. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Holy Bible, KJV The Bible, King James Version The Douay-Rheims Bible