V. The Woman Clothed with the sun
Preparation:
1. Praise of the Father.
2. Hail Mary.
Text: Revelations 12:1-17.
Setting: Our text is from a very strange book of the Bible, the Book of Revelations. It is a book of visions, dreams and nightmares! In our. text we hear of a woman who gives birth to a son 'destined to shepherd the nations'. The child and woman are attacked by the evil one, but God saves them both-the boy is taken to heaven, but the woman flees to the desert where she is again attacked by the evil one but not overcome. The woman is really a dream-combination of Mary and the Church. The Church still lives in this world, struggling against evil, but protected by God. But Mary is also with the Church in spirit, she struggles against the powers and values of the world. In fact, Mary is one of the aids God sends us in our struggle.
Grace: Ask God for the grace to feel more deeply his great love for you, and the love of Mary, your mother in the Church; and if it be his will, that you may perceive his gracious choice to belong to the Marist ' family.
Reflection:
1. The sign in the heavens: a woman clothed with the sun, the moon under her feet, a crown of twelve stars, giving birth to a son who will shepherd all the nations.
2. The evil one attacks the woman and her child, but the power of God saves them.
3. The evil one now wages war with us, the rest of her offspring - we who keep the commandments and give testimony to Jesus.
Conversation: Speak to Mary about your struggles and your fears. Be open and frank. Allow her to comfort, strengthen and encourage you with her strong faith and gentle manner.
Journal: Record your reflections, and anything you have learned or felt, in your journal or notebook. Do this for each meditation. | |
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