There’s a song that’s popular at Christmas time each year “Mary Did You Know?”
The song is a Christmas song addressing Mary, the mother of Jesus, with lyrics written by Mark Lowry in 1984, and music written by Buddy Greene in 1991. Michael English originally recorded it in 1991. It has become a Christmas classic recorded by hundreds of artists and all of you could probably sing the lyrics from memory. The group Pentatonix has helped make it popular.
It starts with the question “Mary did you know that your baby boy would” and goes on to list the many miracles and attributes of Jesus her son.
Did Mary know that her son would walk on water? Did Mary know that the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will leap, the dumb will speak, and the dead will live again?
I’m not sure that Mary knew any of these small details. But Mary knew that her child was the Son of God. In Luke, the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.”
Gabriel tells Mary that she will give birth to the Son of God. Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. Mary trusted what the angel told her.
Mary, growing up in her Jewish faith, understood what she was saying. She knew that she could be stoned to death as punishment for adultery which would be the only way she could become pregnant while betrothed to Joseph. And yet she trusted in God to take care of her when she committed to God’s will in her life. Mary knew that her baby was the Son of God.
We frequently forget the great faith Mary had in the God of the people Israel. This tremendous faith is why she found favor with God to bear his Son so how could we forget her purity and faith?
When the shepherds saw the baby in the manger, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Mary knew – she understood that her baby was the Son of God.
When the time was completed and Joseph and Mary took the baby to the Temple, 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.” And again, Mary knew that her baby was the Son of God.
After Joseph died, Mary followed her son in his ministry throughout the region. Mary knew that her baby Jesus was the Son of God and she nudged him to start his ministry at the wedding in Cana when the water was turned into wine.
She saw the miracles of the blind being able to see, the deaf being able to hear, the lame being able to leap, the dumb being able to speak, and the dead being raised to life again.
And Mary knew, keeping all these things that she saw and felt reflecting on them in her heart.
When Jesus was arrested and taken into custody, Mary was horrified by what she was seeing. There is a beautiful Stations of the Cross from Mary’s point of view titled “Mary’s Way of the Cross” that was written by Fr. Richard Furey. It describes the horror and agony of what our Holy Mother saw and felt as her Son was beaten, mocked, spit on, and eventually crucified.
One phrase in particular stands out in the Fourth Station when Mary said: “I had managed to break through the crowd and was walking side by side with my son. I called to him through the shouting voices. He stopped. Our eyes met, mine full of tears of anguish, his full of pain and confusion. I felt helpless; then his eyes said to me, “Courage! There is a purpose for this.” As he stumbled on, I knew he was right. So I followed and prayed silently.”
Yes, Mary knew. The sword that Simeon had prophesied was piercing her heart and the agony was overwhelming, but when her eyes met her Son’s, she knew. At the Fifteenth Station at the tomb, Mary feels the agony “I could only be most grateful for the sacrifice of my son for us. Yet, what emptiness I felt trying to live without him whom I loved so!”
A few days later, Mary’s agony and pain was overcome with joy when she learned of his resurrection on Easter Sunday. This was the purpose for which he came, this was the purpose for which he was born and died!
The Station concludes with “But, only two days later that emptiness was filled beyond belief — he had risen! Our savior had opened the doors to a new life. That is the way it had to be — because his undying love for you would not stop at anything less. I could rejoice forever, but not in silence.”
The song, “Mary, did you know?” ends with the question “Did you know that your baby boy, … This sleeping child you’re holding is the great ‘I Am’?”
Yes, Mary knew!!!
Do we know? Do we know the amount of faith that Mary had in God to trust completely him? Do wwe know that Mary’s baby boy, our Lord Jesus Christ, is the Great I AM in our lives? Do we hold Christ in our hearts and share him with others by the way we live our lives?
Now the question becomes more personal “Do I know that Mary’s baby boy is the Great I AM in my life?”
