Solomon was recognized for his wisdom. The lily, however, goes far beyond its symbolic value in relation to this monarch because it also refers to She who, having emptied herself, was clothed with divinity.
Gaudium Press English Edition
Newsdesk [30/04/2022 11:30 AM, Gaudium Press] Another day of preaching by the Divine Master. On the top of a mountain, near Lake Tiberias, Jesus reveals with words full of unction how his true followers should be. When the sermon is over, everyone comes down amazed.
In the middle of the crowd, one of the disciples meditates on what he has just heard. A certain phrase had especially caught his attention: “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin. Yet I tell you that even Solomon, in all his glory, was not clothed like one of these” (Mt 6:28-29).
The more he reflected on it, the more strongly a question arose within him: “Among the flowers created, the only one to receive praise from the Rabbi was the lily. Why this preference?”
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Examples taken from nature are used countless times in Holy Scripture to symbolize higher realities, for the visible world is an image of God Himself. And when He created this flower He did so attending to very high purposes, among them representing the beauty and purity of Mary Most Holy.
“As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters” (Ct 2:2). The number of petals on this flower represents the threefold relationship of Our Lady to the Holy Trinity: She is the beloved Daughter of the Father, the most lovable Mother of the Son, and the beautiful Spouse of the Holy Spirit.
The variety of colours with which the Divine Artist has adorned this flower leaves us uncertain as to which of them is the most beautiful. This is how Mary presents herself: as we get to know her exquisite virtues, we don’t know which one to love more.
The scent of the lily is unsurpassable! Its fragrance seems to restore innocence! Now, the sanctity of the Queen of the Universe is the Lord’s favourite perfume. It overwhelms the Angels in ardent love, invigorates the strength of the elect, and penetrates the most hardened hearts.
From the beginning God chose Mary to be His favourite, His Spouse, His Queen. He made her Immaculate Heart the ark where excellent gifts and graces are deposited. In her, the Creator descended to earth; and in her, in the same way, creatures ascend to Heaven. In Mary takes place the victory over the serpent proclaimed in the Protoevangelium – “She will crush your head underfoot” (Gen. 3:15) – and reaffirmed at Fatima: “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph!”
Solomon was renowned for his wisdom; the potentates of his day feared and honoured him. The lily, however,goes far beyond its symbolic value in relation to this monarch because it refers to She who, having emptied herself, was clothed with divinity.
Revelation attempts to describe the greatness of this Lady when it says: “a Woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and a crown of twelve stars upon her head” (12:1).
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The ardent disciple had only a few streets left to reach his home. Suddenly, his eyes fell on a certain Lady, discreet and modest in appearance, but brimming with distinction. It was the Master’s Mother! Without him expecting it, the Noble Lady’s gaze rested penetratingly on that follower, making clear the ideas that were going on in his soul along the way. From that moment on, he always had his heart set upon Mary.
Let us do as he did. If we follow our kind Mother with fidelity, we will see her Kingdom spring up like a lily in the midst of the contemporary mire, that is, we will witness the emergence of the most beautiful era of history in the midst of an era of extreme horrors. God will lean over the earth as if embracing it, and men will rise up to touch Heaven in some way.
This is what Our Lady wishes to grant us, if we remain faithful to her love.
By Sr. Letícia Gonçalves de Sousa, EP
Text extracted from the magazine Heralds of the Gospel, n. 233. May 2021.
Compiled by Roberta MacEwan
