To the editor:
Could we ever know what it was like for Mary to have an angel of God speak to her and ask her to be the mother of God? What kind of trust and surrender would be required to accept what God was asking of her? Would we ever have the trust to only ask how this could be and not ask what we might have to suffer? Would we have the humility of heart that contains not a drop of pride that God would choose us as the vessel of His only begotten son?
Mary did.
How could Mary explain to her betrothed, Joseph, that she was with child? Would he understand since she had never known man? Could she trust that God would tell Joseph of how this came to be and bring Joseph to accept and surrender to this as she had? Could we have ever trusted to this degree in our hearts?
When Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem and she was to give birth, they were unable to find lodging and had to accept giving birth in a stable. They knew that this was the only begotten son of God being born in a stable, this they trusted is how God wanted His son to be born. Could we ever have this kind of faith?
Could Mary have fully known what the angel had spoken to Joseph, saying that this child will be called Jesus because he will save his people from their sins? Could she trust that God would deliver them from the evil intentions of Herod and help them to flee to Egypt? Could we have trusted that God would direct Joseph to protect Jesus?
Mary did.
Mary raised the sinless Jesus from birth, nurtured him and loved him as only a mother could. Jesus returned that love to his mother, a love shared that was unique between the son of God and his mother. Mary and Jesus were truly sensitive to the love they had for each other and the pain each had to endure. Could we ever know the depth of love shared by Jesus and his mother?
Jesus and Mary did.
When Jesus’ appointed time arrived that he was to be the sacrificial lamb, Mary trusted God’s mission for her son, Jesus, and surrendered in obedience to God’s calling for him. Jesus and Mary surrendered their love for each other to the trust and mercy of God. Could we ever know what it was like to surrender a loved one as a sacrificial lamb?
Mary did.
When Jesus was brought before the Sanhedrin and Pontius Pilate had ordered Jesus to be scourged, how much Mary must have felt the whip brought across Jesus’ back, how helpless she was to relieve his pain. She had to surrender to the pain and anguish along with her beloved son. Did Mary and Jesus both know their shared anguish and how much they wanted to take the pain away from each other but were rendered helpless to do so?
Jesus and Mary did.
How alone and hurt she must have felt when the crowd yelled “ Crucify him” when Pontius Pilate had washed his hands of Jesus and turned him over to the crowd. All she could feel was love for her beloved son and all they could feel was hate. Could we ever know this depth of pain, helplessness and sorrow that Mary endured?
Jesus and Mary did.
Now, Mary, we ask that we might walk with you, console you, and help take away the loneliness and ease your broken heart in this final walk to your Son’s crucifixion. It was our sins that brought Jesus to this painful day for both of you.
May we use your example of total surrender to God’s will as our life’s goal. May we ask your intercession in our lives so we might emulate you, Mary. Dearest Mary, Mother of God, help us to open our hearts to receive the Holy Spirit so that we too might bear divine fruit. We pray this in Jesus name, Amen.
Anonymous
