Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
How often at the end of the day do we feel that things just haven’t gone as well as we had hoped? That feeling can be a blessing because it forces us to see that we are like children, like poor people without resources, and that enables us to appreciate today’s Gospel where Christ tells us that to live out his teaching we must become like children.
He alone can teach us how dependent we are on his riches. Prayer, if made honestly, deepens insight of who we are and before whom we make our requests. We know when a child wants a particular favor, he seeks the aid of his mother to attain it. This same principle pertains to the spiritual life.
Today is the feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, our mother, the patroness of prayer and contemplation. What better way to obtain that which we desire than to have recourse to her so as to obtain the gift to be more child-like, when making petition to her son, our brother, Jesus.
Resolve: Today, I shall say some particular prayers to our mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, for me and all those who seek a deeper relationship with Jesus, to obtain grace from the Father to be truly child-like and confident in his care and that he strengthen our trust in his “gracious will” in all that comes our way today.