Is She there?
In the evening, the people in that area have the habit to get together to pray the Rosary. Every day one hears the prayer to Mary being recited out loud. No sooner does side A finish the part of “Hail Mary, full of grace,…” than side B continues with the part of “Holy Mary, Mother of God…” The prayer keeps flowing regularly, just as life happens to be flowing regularly. People express their devotion, confide in her their stories, praise her and ask for something from her. In their eyes, no one is greater than her except God. Plus, she loves her children still on earth, so she often comes to their help. Those who pray to her have many easy and just reasons to do so. Well, it’s good anyway. But, there is one very important thing about her that is often forgotten, even when they are exalting her from the bottom of their heart to the skies.
In a discussion in the family, the husband shouted: “O woman, you don’t know anything. Just don’t talk!”
When D wanted to pursue college, her uncle tried to stop her, saying: “You are a girl, what’s good for you to have higher education? Your life will simply be to serve your husband and give birth to your children.”
Some husband often seeks to stay far from his wife during her period because he is afraid of being “bitten” and of getting “dirty”.
The males in the family enjoy watching the television or reading the newspaper or chatting while the big pile of dishes is waiting for their sister who is cleaning the kitchen.
One observes that the pastor of a little parish sometimes scolded the religious sisters serving his parish as a boss his employees.
Some couple was highly pious. They paid full admiration to Mary’s conception of Jesus but forced their mistaken daughter to undergo abortion so as to keep their “face”.
H’s brother advised her to take part in the formation for community leaders, H said: “I’m only a girl taking care of the laundry and kitchen. I’m not able to do big things.”
One day, the police searched the house of a procurer. Besides discovering the cocaine, they also found some old Rosary beads and pictures of our Lady in his bed room.
…
Those figures continue to be present in the flow of this life. People continue their processions of Mary to express their filial devotion. Prayers to her continue being said out loud. Hymns of praise to her continue being heard from the top of the lung. People continue admiring her exemplary virtues and great stature. The crowd continues feeling moved when her life story is read.
But,
She is present in a forgotten way.
People will continue to forget a very important thing about her: She is a woman.
Joseph Viet [2013]
in Vietnamese: https://only3minutes.wordpress.com/me-co-do/
.
Leave a comment