Sincerity...important, but not enough in moral decision making

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, pray for us.

I recently read a great article on sincerity by Dr. Dennis McInerny, a professor at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Lincoln, NE. [N.B. I could not find it online.] His article reminded me of another I read several years ago which began by examining the derivation of the word sincerity which comes from two Latin words, sine cera, "without wax." Odd eh? 

Not really. In Roman times sculptors sold all kinds of statuary for rich people's homes and gardens. The honest ones sold statues that were exactly what they appeared to be. The dishonest ones sold statues that were flawed, but they filled the flaws with wax. When the statue stood in the sun, the wax melted and all the flaws appeared. So the word sincere came to mean something that was what it appeared to be, honesty, or freedom from duplicity.

A sincere person speaks without deliberate deception according to his understanding. He tells you what he believes to be the truth. However, one can be sincerely wrong. So sincerity is not enough in the realm of moral decision making - which is were Dr. McInerny's article comes in:

Here Am I, Lord, I Come to do Your Will!

I love the feast of the Annunciation/Incarnation. It's an event that's bigger than the creation of the world! In an explosion of grace that occurs quietly, hidden in a nondescript little town in Galilee, the Lord of the universe begins life in the womb of a teenage girl. Wow! The Savior of the world enters human creation through a humble "gate."

Why do Protestants have such a hard time seeing the importance of Mary? Why would Jesus, Who chose to come to earth through the narrow gate of Mary's body, not call His followers to imitate Him in His humility by entering the next life through that same humble gate?

It seems logical to me that the Lord who is "meek and humble of heart," wants us to imitate those qualities by submitting to Mary as His channel of grace. It fits beautifully with Mary's titles, Ark of the Covenant and Gate of Heaven. Meditate on Mary's titles and thank Jesus for giving us so loving a Mother who watches over us with such maternal care. "Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine." Mary, "Gate of Heaven," pray for us.