Where would we all be without the help of our mothers?……Our Lady of Perpetual Help - Pray for us - And Happy Birthday

Today the Universal Church commemorates the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary…..Our Lady was immaculately conceived…God spared her from the mark of original sin - Why? - Because she bore Jesus Christ in her womb - And nothing tainted by sin could produce something pure…So God spared her……..Our Lady, who was born as a result of the union between a man and a women, unlike her son, who was begotten not made - She is the forbearer of what we are to one day become - Perfected…..However, our road is a bit more “bumpy”…We unlike Our Lady were born with the mark of original sin and even after our baptism, we all live with concupiscence, which causes us to sin…This is why Jesus founded a Church, which gives us the Sacraments…..But there is more…This is why Jesus gave us his Holy Mother…..To teach us and give us grace…She was the only perfect follower of Christ and if we go to her, she will lead us to her son….Some may say….....”I go directly to God - I don’t need Mary”……..How foolish!……Know why that does not work? - Because you are you! - A sinner….As I am a sinner....…The most direct way to Jesus is through his mother….A mother knows her son like no other….If you take Mary’s hand, she will lead you to her son…..We are told in the second reading today from St Paul in his letter to the Romans…”For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers”….Let’s focus in on the word “conformed”……To be “conformed” to God is a process….Our Lady is part of that process…She is our mother and like all mothers, she helps God form us through grace……We however have to participate in that process………To be “conformed to the image of his son”…..To arrive “at that place” - To be perfected….Is when we walk into the gates of heaven - And not before….That is a process

“Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise; from you rose the sun of justice, Christ our God”

Where would we all be without the help of our mothers?……The example, the guidance and the nurturing a mother gives to a child is vital….No one will ever love you as your mother loved you…….With that said, the Church is also our mother…..Sadly, so many disregard this reality……The Church, through the clergy and through the Sacraments, purify us, feed us, educate us and even bury us at the end of our life……Why does the world reject this reality?…..There are many reasons…But the one I want to address in this reflection is a lack of understanding of how we enter into eternal life…..As a very good priest once told me…”Joe - We don’t just float into heaven”…..Our world today, particularly America’s version of Christianity is under the misconception that we all just “float into heaven”……..Nothing could be further from the Truth….All you have to do is read the words of Christ in the New Testament…Read them with an objective mind…..Nothing impure enters heaven…..Here is one example of what I am talking about..."Unless you become like a child, you will not enter the Kingdom of God".......And to arrive at that state of purity - As a "child"....... “To be conformed to the image of his Son", as we heard from St Paul in the second reading today at Mass - Is a process!…..To attempt this without sanctifying grace is impossible…..This is why we need the Church…This is why we need the Sacraments and this is why we need Mary……And if we die in the state of grace and fall short, which most people do…We go to Purgatory to "finish the job"……A large majority of the Christian world rejects this “path”….Why?…Because it requires accountability on our part…It requires us to conform our life to God…..What I just noted has been taught for 2000 years by the Catholic Church to this very day…..This is not my personal opinion…However, what is a perennial teaching, is rejected, ignored and rationalized away….Why?…..”Don’t tell me what to do”….I can hear it now!……Before Jesus performed his first miracle at the Wedding of Cana, turning water into wine…Mary told the attendants at the wedding something….”Do whatever he tells you”…..As if it was so easy! - Let’s be honest - And Oh - How the world ignores that statement!….The reality is - Without grace, there is NO WAY we can do what God tells us…Why?….Because human nature is flawed…..This is why we need the Church and this is why we need Our Lady….Those who have ears let them hear……No one gets into heaven until they are purified…The process starts now…..And Our Lady helps us…To reject “the help” is not advisable….Mom knows best - Allow her to help you

“For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Today the Universal Church commemorates the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary……To this very day, Mary is helping us all…..Remember, she is “full of grace”….And grace is the key….Without grace, we are lost…..St Paul tells us that we are to be “conformed” into the image of Jesus…..Do you think that happens over night? - The reality is - Its a process! - And Our Lady is there to help……If we sit at the feet of Our Lady and learn from her…If we strive to purify our hearts through the Sacraments….....God will take care of the rest…..Where would we all be without the help of our mothers?……Our Lady of Perpetual Help - Pray for us - And Happy Birthday……JMJ