Today, on this Feast of the Immaculate Conception, this psalm comes to my mind, as one of my favorite psalms relating to each one of us Christians. We are all called to forget our father's house, the old ways of the world, and choose Christ and His Church as our home.
However, in a mysterious way, these words can apply to Mary, Our Mother, who, as a Jewess, became the Mother of the Messiah, the King, the Savior of Israel.
Mary also became, and is the Mother of God, and the Mother of all Christians in a special manner. Many Christians forget that Jesus is a Jew, and that Mary is the bridge between the Old Testament worship and the New Testament. The Old Covenant finds fulfillment in Christ through Mary.
But, Mary had to leave Nazareth, her home, and go to Bethlehem, the place of Joseph's ancestor, David, the King who most likely wrote this psalm. Mary was called out of her own people to begin a new people, the Church, through Her Son Jesus Christ. Mary had to leave the house of Joachim and Anna and move into Bethlehem, the House of Bread, the House of the Bread of Life, Christ, Who we now share in the Eucharist.
Mary's journey from the house of her earthly father to the House of the Bread of Life, is our journey as well, from earthly attachments to detachment, from human families, to the Family which is the Church. Mary, as Mother of the Church, as given to us by Christ on the Cross, is our Mother and Queen of our hearts.
Thus, she is the most beautiful, the pure one, the woman without any sin, clothed in gold, prepared from the moment of her existence as the Immaculate Conception.
She is the Queen Mother, who stands near Christ, who is the first woman re-born in grace, the new Eve. Her Son is the most beautiful of all men, the truly Begotten One of God the Father, from all ages King and God, sent to earth to bring us all in His train, in His court, to the Father.
Mary's Magnificat shows us that she does not forget her father's house, nor her Father's house. But, she moves beyond the Old Covenant by being the Mother of the New Covenant.
All of us who listen to the Word of God, follow Mary, who listened, and was holy from the beginning of her being. We must become as perfect as God has called us to be uniquely.
Today, we "entreat" her, we pray to her as our intercessor, our Mediatrix, to ask Christ to have pity on us and lead us to perfection. She alone is the most perfect of all creatures. leading all to Christ through her purity and goodness.
We, too, are called to forget the houses of our fathers in the world and follow Mary to Christ, and, therefore, to God the Father.
Today, as we celebrate the Immaculate Conception, let us, like those in this psalm, rejoice that we have been called. This psalm is echoed in the Magnificat, as all generations call her blessed.
Praise God in all things.
Psalm 44 Douay-Rheims
44 Unto the end, for them that shall be changed, for the sons of Core, for understanding. A canticle for the Beloved.
2 My heart hath uttered a good word I speak my works to the king; My tongue is the pen of a scrivener that writeth swiftly.
3 Thou art beautiful above the sons of men: grace is poured abroad in thy lips; therefore hath God blessed thee for ever.
4 Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O thou most mighty.
5 With thy comeliness and thy beauty set out, proceed prosperously, and reign. Because of truth and meekness and justice: and thy right hand shall conduct thee wonderfully.
6 Thy arrows are sharp: under thee shall people fall, into the hearts of the king's enemies.
7 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a sceptre of uprightness.
8 Thou hast loved justice, and hated iniquity: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
9 Myrrh and stacte and cassia perfume thy garments, from the ivory houses: out of which
10 The daughters of kings have delighted thee in thy glory. The queen stood on thy right hand, in gilded clothing; surrounded with variety.
11 Hearken, O daughter, and see, and incline thy ear: and forget thy people and thy father's house.
12 And the king shall greatly desire thy beauty; for he is the Lord thy God, and him they shall adore.
13 And the daughters of Tyre with gifts, yea, all the rich among the people, shall entreat thy countenance.
14 All the glory of the king's daughter is within in golden borders,
15 Clothed round about with varieties. After her shall virgins be brought to the king: her neighbours shall be brought to thee.
16 They shall be brought with gladness and rejoicing: they shall be brought into the temple of the king.
17 Instead of thy fathers, sons are born to thee: thou shalt make them princes over all the earth.
18 They shall remember thy name throughout all generations. Therefore shall people praise thee for ever; yea, for ever and ever.
