Happy Birthday Dear Mary
Sept. 8th is the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. Happy Birthday to Mary, Mother of Jesus, and Blessed Mother to us all. For years, I’ve considered myself a member of the Christian family of Jesus and for a long time it seemed strange to me to embrace Mary as my Heavenly Mother in the way that I accept God as my Father in Heaven. Somehow, it seemed inequitable to me because Mary is clearly a human being and not a member of the Holy Trinity. Yet, throughout the years, I have come to realize her significance in salvation history, for she was chosen from ALL women throughout ALL eternity to serve as the mother of the God-Man, Christ. She is is not to be worshiped or adored, but rather venerated for the role she played in willingly bringing her unborn child into the world.
To be the mother of Jesus, is no small task, one I’m sure any of us would have found a challenge to which we admittedly would not be prepared or even capable of meeting. Mary recognized the enormous responsibility this entailed and relied not on her own understanding but on God to fill her completely with his grace, so that she could freely choose to do His will. She was able to obey God with total submission, neglecting any self-serving motives of a normal human being. When the Angel Gabriel greets her, he says, "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you." (Luke 1:28) She responded to the Angel Gabriel, “I am the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to Thy word.”
When Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth, barren for years, but now expecting John the Baptist, Elizabeth responds, "Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb." (Luke 1:42) Astonished, Elizabeth adds, "And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Luke 1:43). Both Elizabeth and Mary are pregnant by the grace of God. This tells us that we too, when obedient to His word can live a life full of grace. We all have to learn to be obedient and to rely on God being in charge of every detail of our existence.
Model of True Obedience
A powerful statement was once made by the Dorothy Day, advocate for the poor, “True obedience is a matter of love, which makes it voluntary, not compelled by fear or force”.
This is the true obedience espoused by Our Blessed Mother. Be it done to me according to THY WORD, in today’s words….let it happen, just as you say it should. WOW! Not as I say it should or think it should but as GOD says it should. What remarkable faith, trust and obedience.
The Blessed Virgin Mary is a guide for me on my faith journey, a mentor for me in my motherhood, a beacon of light leading me ever closer to her son…..the purpose of her entire existence and all she ever aspired to do….bring Christ to the world. Today’s post is my birthday gift to her. As a struggling mother, uncertain of why God is asking so much of me these days, but hoping to continue to trust in His infinite goodness and purposes unknown to me, I look to the Mother of Jesus.
No easy life for the Mother of Jesus
Mary surely felt fearful at seeing an angel and hearing that she would conceive a child, out of wedlock. She surely feared Joseph’s wrath and that of the elders in her town that could have stoned her to death. She had to leave her home, her family all she knew to travel miles across bumpy terrain, bareback on a donkey, nine months pregnant! She gave birth in a stable, for goodness sake. She then had to flee with her new husband and infant to Egypt to escape a mad King wanting to kill her little boy. But wait, that is not the end of the story!
Mary had to endure the whispers and mockery of the villagers that had grown up with Jesus, who questioned who He was and what He claimed when He began His public ministry. She then witnessed His capture, torture, painful walk to Calvary and His death on the cross. Yet, all the while, she continued her fiat, “Be it done to me, according to Thy word.”
No easy life for the Mother of us all
The Blessed Mother, the Queen Mother of Heaven was obedient in all that was ever asked of her. It is to her that I cry as a poor banished child of Eve, to her that I send up my sighs, mourning and weeping in my valley of tears. Just as any mother is her child’s greatest advocate, I find myself as my children’s greatest advocate, entrusting their very lives into the hands of God. Mary was not only the greatest advocate of Jesus, but she is also my Most Gracious Advocate, Her eyes of mercy always on me, leading me to the most precious fruit of her womb, Jesus. She desires for me and all of us to be with Him for all eternity.
The Blessed Mother guides me in my journey of faith, whenever I turn to her for assistance. I am reminded of her willingness to say "Yes" to God, not knowing what the future would hold or to what degree she would be asked to be perfectly selfless in all she would be asked to do....even witnessing the horrible, cruel death of her only son on a cross. I turn to her as my children have cried out in agony, during tests, shots and procedures and I am reminded of all she suffered at the foot of the cross. The Blessed Mother’s obedience to all that was asked of Her guides me and inspires me to have trust in God's will for our family. Her statement at Cana, "Do whatever He asks of You" rings in my ears whenever I feel weak and discouraged. Today, I celebrate Our Blessed Mother's birth for the great significance it had in ushering in the advent of salvation for all mankind. I feel so blessed to call Her "Mother" and I hope you will too.
Gentle woman, quiet light, morning star, so strong and bright,
gentle Mother, peaceful dove, teach us wisdom; teach us love.
From Hail Mary, Gentle Woman, Text and music © 1975, 1978, Carey Landry.
Mary Kidd Flemming blogs for The Handmaids of Mercy , The Splendor of Truth and The Compass Rose (Parenting and Family Life Issues). You may also enjoy her husband's website: Crossroads Family Center The Flemming Family is facing the greatest challenge of their lives as three of their six kids have health issues and were all diagnosed within an eighth month period. The children's illnesses include: Auto-Immune Liver Disease, Type I Diabetes (insulin dependent), and Ewing's Sarcoma (a form of bone cancer). This has been an incredible journey of faith for the Flemming Family. While they don't fully understand why any of this happened to their children, they place their trust and faith totally in God's goodness. By sharing their faith journey, their hope is that other people will be drawn closer to The Holy Trinity (The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit). It is Mary's great hope that the sufferings of her children and family will be received by God for the conversion of souls. JESUS, WE TRUST in YOU!
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