The Hands of Mary
Our hands do many things throughout the course of the day. Mine may type emails, clean a toilet, make cookies, and embroider a dish towel within a 17-hour period (with proper hygienic measures followed, of course).
The other afternoon, I had stopped home to our convent to finish up some last minute details; my hands needed to do a little dusting and preparatory work before our guests arrived that evening. I wouldn’t have another chance to take care of things before hand since my shift as evening receptionist would soon be starting.
I happened to notice our Franciscan congregation’s newsletter still laying on the kitchen table; I had not yet had a chance to read it. Since I had a little time before I was due back at work, I picked it up and began looking it over. One article which had caught my interest posed a question: “In what I do, am I pointing to Jesus?”
This question struck a chord in my heart and led me to some self-examination. What an important thing to ask myself!
I work in a Catholic healthcare setting and belong to a religious congregation, but do I truly, on a daily basis, point to Jesus? On the exterior, my duties as a receptionist, aide, sacristan, and communications assistant in a setting such as ours should be Christ-centered and lead toward Him. However, this article’s question made me think a little more deeply. Am I living out my duties, interacting with others, in such a way as to truly point to Jesus? Am I showing each person love, care, and attention as Jesus would do?
My thoughts soon turned to Mary, Jesus’ mother and ours. Her hands surely always showed love, as mine are called to do. My community’s directives extol us to keep her example “ever before our eyes.”
Mary pointed to Jesus, her Son, as no other person ever has or will. At the wedding in Cana, she told the servers: “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5). She referred to herself as “the handmaid of the Lord,” (Luke 1:38) never looking for honors but humbly focusing on Him. At countless times in history, she has appeared around the world, reminding people to turn to her Son. Her hands pointed to Jesus, along with caring for His needs in his early years on earth.
In our own personal lives, Mary will continue pointing to her Son and leading us to Him, if we let her. A beautiful way we can take Mary’s guiding hand is by praying the rosary. In this powerful prayer, as St. John Paul stated in his apostolic letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae, we contemplate the face of Christ with Mary. Focusing on various events (mysteries) from Christ’s life, we walk with Mary through the decades, letting her “point” us to her Son.
During this month of October, we might renew our commitment to the daily rosary. If we are already praying it, we might consider trying to deepen our prayer, perhaps incorporating scripture into this meditation. If we’re not sure where to start, there are various resources available that offer scripture verses corresponding to the different mysteries.
Mary’s hands are also skillful at fixing troubled situations. When I struggle with a issue or when I am dealing with a difficult person, I like to turn to Mary. She was human and she assuredly had struggles of her own. Along with “Our Lady of the Rosary,” another beautiful Marian title is “Mary Undoer of Knots.” She can help get rid of those knots that obstruct our way as we try to journey ever closer to her Son.
Mary can teach me how to love as I should; she can point me to Jesus in my difficult circumstance. She can beg for me the grace I need. It is fitting that during our morning prayers we entrust ourselves into her hands. What more safe place is there than in our mother’s care?
