“Just wait until your father gets home…”
How many children have done something wrong and heard their mom respond with this phrase? Then, sitting stressed all day, knowing your doom was coming when dad arrived.
This thought comes to mind as I pray my Rosary. There was the scene in ‘The Christmas Story” in which Ralphie, tired of being bullied, finally snaps. He surprises and overcomes his bully. Laying over him, Ralphie pummels the bully, the whole time firing lines of expletives. Hearing the words and seeing his rage, his friend runs to get Ralphie’s mom, who comes to pull him away and take him home. Ralphie draws back from the rage, realizes what he’s done and panics. He is doomed – the rage alone was horrible but all the profanities. No hope. Mom grabs a wet wash cloth and helps Ralphie cool down and clean up. Now, Ralphie has only the dread of his father’s return home and his mother sharing the event. He’s a goner for sure.
Locked in his room, Ralphie continues pondering his fate: I heard the car pull up the driveway, and a wave of terror broke over me. He’ll know what I said—the awful things I said! Hearing his dad’s voice, Ralphie walks downstairs to meet his fate. After some small talk, Dad asks, “What happened today?” Ralphie realizes it’s all about to come out. He looks at his mother with a pained expression.
Surprisingly, his mother responds, “Nothing much. Ralphie had a fight.”
Tension rises as Dad puts down the paper and looks at Ralphie with a stern gaze. “A fight? What kind of fight?”
Mom replies, “Oh, you know how boys are. I gave him a talking to…”
Ralphie’s mom showed mercy and forever changed how Ralphie saw her and acted.
Strange story to tie forward in this reflection, huh?
“during these ordeals do not lose your peace; live in My presence; ask My Mother and the Saints for help.” Divine Mercy in My Soul # 1560
But, this is precisely how the Blessed Virgin Mary, our mother, reacts with us. Catching us in our sinfulness, she cleans us up, helps us stabilize ourselves again. Then, defers what we’ve done when the Father comes. She helps us as the Mother of Mercy to avoid the punishment due to us. She cleans us up, covers our bruises and holds us close to her side as we come before the Father. The Father then sees the love of our mother for us and sees our dependence upon her – and gives us Mercy.
Love it!