Review: Mary in the Bible and in Our Lives

Sadly, it took nearly 20 years for the Swedish edition of this book to be translated into English.  In many ways, this is one of Fr. Stinissen’s best.

Certainly, references to Mary in the Bible are known, in some depth, by all Christians.  What Fr. Stinissen does is not extract the words from the Bible and comment on them, rather he puts them INTO the Bible, and answers the key question needed for real understanding the whole Bible: Why?  Why Mary?  Why that way?  Why then?  And importantly, the words also compel you to ask yourself: Why am I reading these words now?

The good father’s meditations offer unique insights, food for your meditations, to make better sense of what the Holy Spirit wished to convey with these particular words of the Evangelists, to us, right now.

And how those words should change our lives.

Some excerpts of note:

The root of sin, which is egoism, makes it difficult for man to open himself to others.  The one    who is no longer interested in himself can be completely engaged in the suffering and needs of others.

Mary pondered.  She reflected.  Reflection of this kind is not very common in our day.  We often have no time to listen to God.  We see only a fragment of the road, but not where it is leading, what the goal is and the meaning of life.

It is nice to dream about holiness and perfection, but as long as we do not understand what this obliges us to do in everyday, concrete reality, nothing has happened with us yet.

God cannot become man in a heart that only gives itself halfway.  Our life could be so much richer if we learned from Mary to be wholehearted.  We prefer our own plans to God’s plans and are astonished that the results are poor and the fruits are few.  Mary had no plans of her own.  She was open to God’s plans.  Whoever opens himself to God lets God’s love flow into the world.

To receive a mission from God always means to grow deeper into the human community.  One receives nothing merely for himself.  Everything must be shared.

Her simple words are for all times a model for Christian prayer.  She did not tell Jesus what to do.  She had no personal plans that she wished him to carry out.  She pointed out the need (at the wedding in Cana) and nothing more.

St. John of the Cross gives three reasons why it is best simply to point out one’s need and pain, rather than tell God directly what he must do.  First of all, God knows better than we do what we need.  Secondly, the Beloved feels a deeper compassion when he seen an absolute surrender and trust in the suffering person.  And thirdly, the danger of self-love is less: by trying to force God to give us certain gifts, we risk feeding our ego.

The future is always richer than the past.  For a Christian, nothing could be as unreasonable as sadly to relive old memories and think back with melancholy on the carefree joy one experienced as a child.  A Christian can always say to God: “You have kept the good wine until now.”

Stress is an infallible sign that we are going our own way and directing our life too much.

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Perhaps appropriately following on these reflections, I read these words of St. Augustine this morning:

“Let us never assume that if we live good lives we will be without sin; our lives should be praised     only when we continue to beg for pardon.  But men are hopeless creatures, and the less they concentrate on their own sins, the more interested they become in the sins of others.  They seek to criticize, not to correct.  Unable to excuse themselves, they are ready to accuse others.

A sacrifice to God is a contrite spirit; God does not despise a contrite and humble heart.”

And I also heard the words of this beautiful hymn echo in my heart:

Here is My Life

Behold, the eyes of the Lord
search the face of the earth
to find hearts that are given,
seeking souls to make pure.
To enflame this world’s darkness
to warm cold hearts with grace.
Am I here, Lord, for such a time,
for such a place?

Here is my life, Lord, heart mind and body.
My soul’s surrender, take it for Your own.
And you will lead, I know, where only love can go.
Here is my life, O Lord,
My life for You.

There is a love stronger than death,
passion deeper than this life.
In the heart’s purest longing
lies the pearl of great price.
One Love, all loves surpassing,
true surrender the cost.
Am I here, Lord, to bear this love,
and share its cross?

Here is my life, Lord, heart mind and body.
My soul’s surrender, take it for Your own.
And you will lead, I know, where only love can go.
Here is my life, O Lord,
My life for You.

                                                --- The Servants of the Word, Ann Arbor, MI c2004