Devotion 

Blessed are You Who Believed

Frances Taylor 

Faith! That's what Mary had, and that's the gift given to us by God in our baptism. In faith, Mary believed the angel's message. And faith, she traveled to her cousin Elizabeth's home. In faith, she would teach her son that he was the Son of God, and she would follow him to his death, and remain with his disciples so that they would not lose faith after he returned home to his father. What do we do with our gift of faith? Why can it be so easily shaken? How many times have we "lost" faith – in God, in others, even in ourselves? Mary's faith did not promise her an easy life, in fact, Simeon told her that her heart would be pierced with a sword so that "the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." Think of how often her faith was tested. How many of us have been tested in the same way? And yet, she continued to believe. God has given Mary to us as a sign that God is with us always, even through the darkest times, the most confusing times. If we continue to believe, to have faith, then we, too, will be called "blessed" because our reward is peace of heart and mind in this world, and a place in at the table with Mary in the next.

Prayer 

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of faith! This gift that gets me through the dark days and brightens the good ones. May I always hold you in my heart and work to awaken the gift of faith in others so they may also experience the joy I feel. Amen.