To understand Mary’s request, we must first understand the nature of genuine humility. Humility isn’t the refusal to acknowledge anything good about ourselves or the playing down of our gifts and qualities. That, in fact, is a form of pride.
Until that moment of desperation, I had never given serious thought to adoring Jesus in my heart. Of course, I pray to him and tell him that I love him. Definitely, I petition him when I’m in need. But the idea of sitting quietly and focusing only on his presence within me and nothing else was new to me.
When we look at all the bright red hearts scattered everywhere we look, maybe we can think of the bright red heart of St. Valentine, who was martyred for the sake of the Bright Red Heart that was pierced for us on the Cross.
Childlikeness isn’t something we can acquire on our own. It’s a grace we must ask for, and one that the Father is most willing to give us.
I could go on and on about all the “other plans” God has had in store for my family and me, but I think it would get tedious. The plans themselves aren’t all that important. What’s vitally important is that God “othered” our plans, so to speak and we reaped surprising blessings.
An epiphany is a manifestation, the revelation of a divine being. In the case of THE Epiphany as we recognize it in the Catholic Church, our Lord was made manifest to the Gentiles through the Magi. Thus, he was made manifest to all of humanity and for all time. He is the Son of God, the Messiah.
