My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior. — 1 Samuel 2:(see 1) 

Mass Readings: 1 Samuel 1:24-28 / Luke 1:46-56 

Mary as Magnifier 

A friend of mine, jittery about Mary, went on retreat at a monastery to think over the idea of converting. There he met a gruff old priest who asked why he was hesitating. He said he thought the Church honored Mary too much. The priest shot back, “Well, don’t you believe her soul magnifies the Lord? It’s right there in Scripture!” My friend realized he’d never really thought of that before.  

What he realized was that Mary doesn’t block out God. She stands between us and God, not as a wall, but as a magnifying glass. She doesn’t make Him greater, because no one can add to His glory. But she makes Him more visible because His glory is clearly seen in His saints, and He shines in no saint more brightly than in Mary. 

Prayer: Father, let the light of Christ shine in us as He does in Mary.