End of 9 day Novena - Blessed Virgin Mary and God's provision

I wrote in my previous post that if I come into abundant money, I'm meant to give it away. Well, I came into a pleasant surprise, a small sum of money which came in the form of a reimbursement and the very next day, I was required to pay that sum unexpectedly to someone else. Exact amount. Not a cent less, not a cent more. It is very scary when I think about it. Does God read my blog? He really hears and sees everything. Nothing escapes His eyes. Not even when you tear off those tiny carpark coupon stubs and 'accidentally' drop the stubs to the road after getting out of your car (oops). Nope. Nothing escapes Him, not even that faint swearing under your breath or in your head. Scary, right?

Well, actually, I think it's also wonderful that we have such a mighty God to watch over us. He hears my thoughts, He listens to my heart, He knows my feelings. I am in awe of His goodness and I hope I will continue to be in awe of Him for the rest of my life.

We've finished our 9 days of nightly mass (our yearly Novena) to celebrate the Feast of St Vincent de Paul. We ended the Feast Day with mass and a dinner on the 10th day at the Orchid Country Club. I've come away from this Novena with a different view of Mary and St Vincent de Paul. Let me say honestly, that I tend to give petitions to St Anthony, rather than St Vincent de Paul. Although he is the patron saint of our church, I've never felt a 'connection' to seeking his intercession. I don't know why. It was only at this Novena when the different priests mentioned that St Vincent de Paul was always rooting for the poor and needy that it hit home that I AM in the right parish! This would be a saint who understands my needs totally. That he can relate to people in need. That there are those of us poor in spirit or poor by earth's standards. I felt really 'paiseh' (bad) that I had always 'neglected' him and taken him for granted. Ok, I'm starting to sound loony, speaking about a dead person like he were alive. But go figure, I don't blame you if you're not into asking saints for intercessions. I for one, have had St Jude and St Anthony help me pray for intentions with great outcome (INCLUDING A BABY!!!) so there! I also believe in the intercessory power of our late Blessed Pope John Paul II. I do BELIEVE that God hears his intercessions and the intercessions of our saints for our prayers intentions!

See, for you people out there who wonder, why would you ask these Saints to pray for you when you can pray to God directly? Well, why ever would you ask you friend to pray for you when you can pray to God yourself? Why have prayer warriors? Why have prayer ministries? Why have cell group member prayer buddies? Because there is power in numbers, lah! Catholics do not ask these saints to work the miracles. Catholics ask these saints to intercede on their behalf to put in a good word with God to work the miracles! And why not? Yes, I can pray myself. In fact, I hear God's promptings myself. But is there any harm in asking these saints to pray for me too? I'd think if God favoured them, there might be a higher chance of God answering the prayers! 

Blessed Virgin Mary. I've come to love her much. Actually, I started out adoring her first. In 1988 or 89 (cannot quite recall), I went on a pilgrimage to Medjugorje in the then Yugoslavia. Actually, I don't know if there was already a name change back then. I think it was Bosnia. Anyhow, I adored her and felt really touched that the people there attended mass THRICE daily. Let me repeat, THRICE DAILY!!! Sometimes, to attend mass once a week is already too much for some of us to bear. But three times a day? Then as life went along, I learnt that the prayers of the Rosary were a very powerful defence against falling into doing bad things. I believe the evil one is terrified of our Blessed Virgin Mary. However, I have not been very faithful to saying the rosary regularly. By the way, might I just say, please read up on the prayers which make up the rosary before you jump to any conclusion. The rosary is a compilation of prayers to mark the different Stations of the Cross (the journey of the Life of Christ). So if you don't realise this, let me implore you to not criticise the rosary without first trying to understanding what it is.

Once about a year and half ago, I was given a prompting that there was an urgency for me to pray the rosary. The message was one of utmost urgency. I did initially but did not continue regularly. God forgive me (and Mary too) but the monotony of repetitious prayer is not very for me and I have a tendency to fall asleep when I say the rosary. Also, with all sorts of excuse like not having enough time etc, I stopped saying it. I much prefer to have open dialogue with Jesus, Father God or Mary. So I did not listen and later, I realised why I had received that warning. However, I think I was blessed because I had continued to have my two-way conversations with God and that helped me through a period tremendously. Anyway, I've come out of that dark tunnel a lot stronger and with a renewed relationship with God.

Back to the Novena. The theme for this year's Novena is Mother Mary. I had always had the impression that Mother Mary had been a really meek, young, gentle, obedient girl who wouldn't have dreamt of disobeying God. That God had chosen her because she was not a naughty girl. That she'd most likely listen to him because she wasn't the rebellious type (like me). That she was MEEK. Nothing like me. But at through this Novena, I realised what a strong personality Mother Mary must have had to go through the whole scandal of being a single pregnant girl, then later to put up with poverty and moving here and there and then the icing on the cake, to have a son who seemed to be causing nothing but trouble. If I looked at it that way, I realised WOW! Mother Mary was really something in her time! She is my ultimate idol! Here's this young girl, sounding loony by telling people she was pregnant and bearing who's kid? God's son! The amount of ridicule she must have faced. Hats off to her, I say. I stand corrected; our Blessed Virgin Mother Mary was definitely NOT MEEK. Not even close. So now we know why God chose her. She was unwavering and stood her ground because SHE KNEW that God was her provider and she would be obedient to His will. She trusted in God and she trusted in the work of Jesus. She suffered the agony of losing her son so that we might all enjoy the fruit of this sacrifice. What a woman she was. I have walked away from the Novena with a deep sense of respect for her.

Who practically insisted Jesus perform his very first miracle at the wedding of Cana of Galilee? Turning water into wine (John 2:2-11) Why Mother Mary of course. It's like any mother telling the child to do something because the mother knows better! If an angel had appeared to me and given me the same message and I had to suffer utter scandal, I think I'd not be so humble or gracious and I'd be wondering if the angel had just been a figment of my imagination. I'd be wondering why God would let me give birth to His son, God's son (!!!) in a stable with the animals and in poverty? I'd be wondering why I had to be up and running away with a baby and not just any baby but God's baby. How could this be? But no, not Mother Mary. Not only did she trust God completely for His provision, she trusted enough to know that her son was unique and would be doing special things. Then she had to watch her baby suffer a horrible death. Wow, wow and wow. I RESPECT.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you!

You know, I must add, before each mass during the Novena, we have some praise and worship singing and of course the Charismatics will be drawn to raise their hands or arms in worship of our Lord Jesus. Well, majority of the congregation (who aren't Charismatic) do not unless the worship leader practically asks them to. I for one do not worry what people must think of me. My husband says he can see that I am often very touched by the Holy Spirit. I tell him simply that I do not worry about what others think of me. Many of them are shy and some may wonder what the heck I am doing raising my arms but you know what? It's God I glorify. It's Jesus I love. I don't worry about them. I am moved by the Holy Spirit and I wish upon them that they too can experience what I experience. Also, if Mary can be so strong and not worry what others think of her, then should I worry about what others think about me because I love Jesus? Go ahead and think what you like of me. I am more worried about what God thinks of me.