The land overflowing with milk and honey, Mary: Day 114

The land overflowing with milk and honey

Mercy is fruitful, St. Alphonsus assures us, so Mary is like the biblical Promised Land, “flowing with milk and honey.”

St. Bernard, speaking of the great compassion of Mary toward us poor creatures, says, “She is the land overflowing with milk and honey promised by God” (see Ex 3:8, 17). For this reason Pope St. Leo the Great observes, “The Blessed Virgin has so merciful a heart, that she deserves not only to be called merciful, but mercy itself.”

St. Bonaventure considers that Mary was made Mother of God for the sake of those who are miserable, and that to her is committed the charge of dispens- ing mercy. He considers as well the tender care she takes of all, and that her compassion is so great that she seems to have no other desire than that of reliev- ing the needy. In light of these considerations, he says that when he looks at her, he seems no longer to see the justice of God, but only the divine mercy, of which Mary is full. “Lady,” he concludes, “you are walled in with mercy; your only wish is to show it.”

In short, the compassion of Mary is so great toward us, that the Abbot Guarric says, “Her loving heart can never remain a moment without bringing forth its fruits of tenderness.” “And what,” exclaims St. Bernard, “can ever flow from a source of compassion but compassion itself ?”

“What safer refuge,” asks the devout Thomas à Kempis, “can we ever find than the compassionate heart of Mary? There the poor find a home; the infirm, a remedy; the afflicted, relief; the doubtful, counsel; and the abandoned, assis- tance.” Wretched indeed would we be if we didn’t have this Mother of Mercy, always attentive and eager to meet our needs! —St. Alphonsus Liguori, The Glories of Mary

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .
If I were to take further the analogy of Mary to the Promised Land, what would the milk and honey represent? What would the fruit represent? What other aspects of the Promised Land would provide a useful analogy?

CLOSING PRAYER
Holy Spirit, you have come to your spouse, Mary, saying, “Your lips distill nectar, my bride; honey and milk are under your tongue . . . your shoots are an orchard . . . with all choicest fruits” (Sg 4:11, 13).

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