What image comes to mind when you think of Mary, Our Blessed Mother? For most of us it is probably one of the statues we have or have seen with her hands folded piously praying.
What do we know about Mary? Physically, Mary was of Mediterranean ancestry which means dark complexion to endure the sun and heat with typically brown eyes.
The first trait we notice about Mary’s personality is that she was a leader. Yes, she was pious and pensive, but she was also a person of action.
Mary loved God and practiced her Jewish faith. We know more about Mary than we do about Joseph. Mary was born to Ann and Joachim in Jerusalem. Joachim owned a house in the vicinity of the temple, near the Sheep Gate and its pool called “Bethesda”.
There isn’t much written directly about Mary’s personality or life. The scriptures teach us about Mary’s personality by what is written about her. The Virgin Mary is a model for all of us but especially for women of every class, age, and culture.
Mary and Joseph were devout Jews and worshiped in the Temple according to the customs of their faith. God is at the center of their lives, and we see this as the story of Christ’s birth is revealed to us in the New Testament Gospels.
We frequently forget that Jesus was Jewish. He was raised in his faith by Mary and Joseph and throughout his life he practiced his faith. Jesus went to the synagogue on the Sabbath throughout his ministry.
Jesus’ practice of his faith was natural because of the example of his mother. Mary was a person who was completely dedicated to God. When the Angel Gabriel announced to her that she was to be the mother of God, he said “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” indicating that her dedication to God was known by God.
The Angel Gabriel tells Mary that God has chosen her for a special mission; that she, a virgin, is to be the mother of the Son of God. Mary ponders about this and asks, “How could this be since I’ve had no relations with a man?” Even though Mary wonders about the message of the Angel, she willingly accepts God’s will in her life. Mary said, “May it be done to me according to your word.” Her trust was in God.
Mary immediately goes into the hill country of Judea to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who is six months pregnant in her old age, to help her with her delivery and care for her newborn son John. Mary gave us the example of serving others in need of our help.
Jesus is born in Bethlehem and all creation rejoices. Mary keeps in her heart the stories that the Shepherds and the Magi tell of the birth of Christ.
When Jesus was taken to the Temple to offer the sacrifice according to the Law, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
Mary quietly ponders the meaning of “you yourself a sword will pierce”. What an example of faith! This happens throughout her life. Mary ponders the meaning of Simeon’s words which are revealed in her Son’s Passion, crucifixion, and death on the cross.
When all the disciples ran and hid from the Romans, Mary was there, feeling the pain of every lash from the whip and every thorn from the crown placed on his head. Mary walked next to Jesus as close as they would let her on the way to Calvary. She felt the pain of each fall and the whipping and kicking by the guards.
Mary was a leader; she didn’t just quietly stand by and ponder things. Mary nudged Jesus to begin his ministry. At the wedding in Cana, Mary told Jesus that they ran out of wine. This would be a terrific embarrassment to the family and Mary didn’t want that to happen. Even though Jeus said that his time had not come, she then told the servants to “Do whatever he says.” Another great example of faith.
Mary was also a leader in the early church. The Book of Acts tells us that after Jesus ascended into heaven, some women and Mary, the mother of Jesus went to the Upper Room to pray with the Apostles.
Mary lived a life of dedication to God and to serving others. Her faith was strong during the many trials and hardships of life; fleeing with Joseph to Egypt to protect their son, living in a foreign land and learning the language and customs so they could blend in, then the long trip back to Israel and relearning their native language and customs, losing Jesus in the temple, watching her son cruelly beaten and killed even though he had done nothing wrong, standing at the foot of his cross in silent resistance to the powers of evil watching him die.
But Mary also experienced great joy in her life. She rejoiced at the resurrection of Jesus from the dead that is our Salvation, she rejoiced at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and those in the Upper Room.
We celebrate Mary’s life on many special dates in the church. On March 25th, we celebrate the Announcement of the Incarnation by Gabriel to Mary. Nine months after the Annunciation, we celebrate the birth of Christ on December 25th. On January 1st, the final day of the Octave of Christmas, which is today, we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.
Mary’s leadership did not end when her body and soul were assumed into heaven. Our Blessed Mother has appeared numerous times to people throughout the world asking us to pray for peace. Today we pray for peace and that she will intercede with her son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, for us and all people in the world that we might love others as much as Jesus loves us.
And so together we pray:
Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
