Feast of Immaculate Heart of Mary

Mt 6:24-34 “You cannot serve both God and mammon”

What I really love about our Church is that the Church is full of symbolisms and rituals. The point that proves this is what we are celebrating today. Right after the celebration of the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus the church celebrates the feast of the immaculate heart of Mary. I believe that when the church does something it is significant and meaningful. Everything has a purpose symbolically. The Church did not just put the celebration of the immaculate heart today with no reason at all but to bring home a message.

Many might ask why it is called the “Immaculate Heart of Mary?” We could answer this question basing in our Theological studies that it is called “Immaculate heart” for Mary is indeed the Immaculate Virgin as it is defined in our doctrine of faith and no one dared to question it lest if you do, anathema sit! But remember that our faith is a faith seeking for understanding, credo ut intelligam. Saying the dogmatic explanation of this “as a mystery” will not convince many, but if we put a little flesh on it people might buy our answer. So allow me to share my simple reflection about the “immaculate heart”

We Christians particularly Salesians, believe that we are called to pattern our hearts to the sacred heart of Jesus who is meek and humble of heart. We are called to relate with others with meekness and humility especially to the young. And this is where Mary entered the picture. Mary is the first believer, the first disciple of Christ. From the very beginning Mary believed in the holy plan of God when she said “be it done to me according to your word.” She believed that the one she will gave birth is the Son of God, Emmanuel. She put all her heart to the Word of God. This is for me why she is called the “immaculate heart” for her heart is only dedicated in doing the will of God and only the will of God. She put all her trust to his “Son” that he will save the world from sin. Mary did not put any question, anxiety, worries and fear in her heart and she maintained her heart pure… only for God. Mary sings in her heart the Psalm for today “I will bless the LORD at all times; praise shall be always in my lips.”

She is the best example of how we could follow Christ. Mary understood clearly what our Gospel of today said “we could not serve both God and mammon” Mary chose to believe and serve God and God alone.

My dear brothers the reality is that we are not just ordinary Christians we are professed Salesians. We are individuals who promise to live always in the image and likeness of Christ. We wish to follow Christ radically. I think this reality asks as all the more to be like the immaculate heart. We have a sufficient grace to be like Christ. Don Bosco in his dream tells us that Jesus himself gave Mary to us to be our teacher of how to be servants for the young. We need not worry on how we will do our mission as Christians or as Salesians for through Mary we will learn what is the meaning and how to be meek and humble of heart like that of Jesus her Son.

The feast of immaculate heart is a reminder for all of us of our mission as Christians who should have a heart patterned in the heart of Christ. Brothers, this is my personal understanding of the “immaculate heart” a heart that is for God and only for God. A heart totally patterned in the heart of Jesus. As the slogan say “Jesus through Mary.” How about you my dear brothers what is the personal meaning of this feast for you?