Compass to Discipleship: “To Christ Through Mary”

“Mary is the model of discipleship.”

This has been the emphasis of Rev. Fr. Orlando Angelia, Rector of the St. Francis Xavier Seminary College (XACOSE), during his homily on the fourth day of the Marian Exhibit held at NCCC Mall, Victoria Plaza, Davao City, 27th of May 2023 with the mass servers, choir, and readers coming from the Immaculate Concepcion Parish of Peñaplata.

It was the fourth year of the Marian Exhibit featuring 31 different images of Mary with the theme “Walking Together with the Heart of Mary” after three years of the event’s postponement during the pandemic which includes the following: the Holy Rosary, the Holy Masses presided by Rev. Fr. Orlando Angelia and Rev. Msgr. Julius Rodulfa; Film Showing, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, Halad-Awit alang kang Santa Maria, and the talk about Mary as Consoler led by Sr. Ma. Leah Zozobrando, RVM.

But why is it that Mary is said to be the model of discipleship?

During the annunciation by Angel Gabriel to Mary that she would become the mother of the Emmanuel, Mary pronounced her “fiat” by saying “I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word”. Even if she did not fully understand the mystery behind the message of Angel Gabriel, she totally surrendered herself to God’s will. Throughout the conception, birth, childhood, and Jesus’ public ministry, Mary remained steadfast in trusting God’s mysterious plan. In face of adversities during Jesus’ passion and death on the cross, and while most of Jesus’ disciples went in hiding, Mary stood by and followed Jesus even at the foot of the cross.

When Jesus resurrected, Mary’s motherly presence became the rallying and consoling point for the apostles who found renewed enthusiasm and have been emboldened to become disciples of the Risen Christ when they received the Holy Spirit.

Throughout her life, Mama Mary has become the role model for discipleship. Through time, Mary, appeared to peoples of different races in different ways to lead them to Christ like a compass. Just like how a compass helps the lost, Mary also guides the people who have lost their way and leads them back to Jesus. She became an instrument for people to trust and believe in God even at times of hardships and to be disciples of Christ.

Just like the moon, Mary illumines the people’s path during the darkness and walks with us in our journey of faith towards Christ. However, the moon does not shine on its own for its light comes from the sun just like how Mary’s grace comes from God.

Now that the Universal Church is embarking on her 2-year listening journey called the Synod on Synodality (“journeying together”), let us walk together with the Heart of Mary and become disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. Coincidentally, the Sunday after the fourth day of Marian Exhibit is the celebration of the Pentecost. In the presence of Mama Mary, during the Pentecost the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles and emboldened them with various charisms to partake in the Church’s mission to the world.

Today, all of us are challenged to respond to the call to discipleship, to become like Mama Mary. We are called to live like a compass, leading others to the True North who is Jesus. Like the moon, we don’t shine on our own, but we draw our brightness from the real star who is Jesus Christ. Jesus is our destination and we draw out inspiration and direction from Mama Mary. Thus, the honor we give to Mama Mary is ultimately directed to our Lord Jesus Christ. As Catholics we say, “To Christ through Mary”. (Diwani Ma. Rosemina G. Gales | ICPYA Choir member, Immaculate Concepcion Parish, Peñaplata)