Discovery 
One day, without knocking, Jesus chooses
to reveal Himself to the little bird in some
circumstance of its life. The calling is
different for each creature, unique as we
are. For some of us, it is the intervention
of His Blessed Mother which reveals the path
to Him. This is the calling of little bird:
to be picked up and cleaned so as to be presentable
to the King of Heaven. Little bird yearns:
"O purify me, then I shall be clean.
O wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."
(1)
We know that Our Lady is present to intercede
for us as our spiritual Mother, and for those
of us who revere her as our spiritual Mother,
she never fails us. "Seeing his mother
there with the disciple whom he loved, Jesus
said to his mother, "Woman, there is
your son." In turn he said to the disciple,
"There is your mother." (2)
I pray that Our Lady may beckon you
to her
Son, as little bird discovered.
The Lady's Gentle Hand
The gracious Lady stooped to reach
A wretched bird strewn on the beach.
Battered with oil, grease, and silt;
Weathered by world; gouged by guilt.
The gracious One takes bird in hand
Without a glove; without demand.
Shelters it from the scorching heat
In mantle warm, fragrant, sweet.
Gentle hand: vigorous cleaning;
Little beak: rigorous preening.
Offered to the Great Physician;
Anointing Chrism of Salvation.
From crude to Chrism; silt to Sublime:
Eternity reached down into time.
(c) Paul Buis, 2000
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1. Psalms 52: 9
2. John 19:26-27
image (c) Tricia Of The Sacred Wounds Of Jesus, 2006