Week 3, Day 7 (Day 21 of 33)
Daily Prayer
Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.
Amen.
Mary, Morning Star
Scripture Reading from Song of Songs 2:11-17 – The dawn of a new day, the winter is over and spring is here.
I Thirst
Mother Teresa of Calcutta was inspired by the words of Christ from the Cross, “I thirst” (John 19:28). Jesus had a thirst to save the world, to defeat sin, to serve the poor, to spread the Good News, to heal the sick and brokenhearted. Jesus’ words from the Cross were not a cry for water to drink but a cry for people to turn their hearts back to God.
What was Mother Teresa’s ministry?
What work did she do to glorify God? She served the poorest of the poor in India. She was motivated early in her life by her mother’s favorite scripture, “You did it for me.” She called it the gospel on five fingers. (1-2-3-4-5: You. Did. It. For. Me.) Mother Teresa was also blessed with a vision of what God wanted her to do for Him, and she did everything she could to carry out the mission God gave her.
Do we thirst with the thirst of God? Is our mission to do the will of the Father and spread the Good News with everyone we meet? Mary thirsted for the same things Jesus thirsted for. She united her thirst with that of Jesus. Mary also allowed others to approach Jesus and attempt to quench his thirst, even though she knew a drink was not what he wanted. He thirsts for our love, not water!
Have you ever been thirsty? What does it feel like? When you are thirsty, really thirsty, there is nothing in the world you can think of but getting a drink of water. You are obsessed with achieving that goal. That is what Jesus felt on the Cross. He was thirsty to be with God, and Jesus thirsted for all of us to be with God, too.
Daily Practice this week
This week we offer up some small sacrifice at least three times each day.
Closing Prayer
Most compassionate Father, your Son left us his cry of thirst. May his mother, the Virgin Mary, help us to hear this cry of thirst, and draw us into the mystery of her compassion. Let us live this cry of thirst with her, so as to become an echo of this cry for the whole world. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
I Thirst