Mary, Mother of our Family

We learn a lot from our parents, and for many of us our mother plays a critical role in making us the people we become. For young children, a mother is literally a source of life. Moms teach first words, catch us when we fall, and maybe even teach us how to pray. Moms are a gift for us, and while some of us may have a strained relationship with our mother, or perhaps no relationship at all, we know that (in the ideal setting) the relationship between a mother and child is, in many ways, sacred.

Jesus had a mother that was specifically chosen for Him, and like any mother she taught Jesus how to walk, talk, and even pray. Mary was there for the big moments of Jesus’ life — including His death and resurrection. From the very beginning, Mary knew that she was carrying the promised messiah — a savior for humanity — but she didn’t know the full picture. She knew Jesus was destined for great things and would save us, but how or when were beyond Mary. Remember, Mary was human and while she was the Mother of God (a title we celebrate on this solemnity) that doesn’t mean she had superhuman powers or could see the future. Mary was a normal mother with some very extraordinary experiences.

In the Gospel, we read and hear that shepherds came to honor Jesus, a child they had no other connection to, and they glorified and praised God when they saw Him. Can you imagine being present hours after a new child is born and suddenly the hospital room is crowded with strange people who start singing? Many mothers (especially new mothers) would justifiably be freaked out. Instead Mary “kept all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). There is a secret to discipleship in that single line.

Mary is the Mother of God. She bears the messiah in her womb, gives birth to Him, raises Him, watches His ministry, and is even present at His death. She is a witness to His resurrection. But all the moments leading up to that, Mary didn’t know what might happen next. Instead she trusted God and reflected on the work that God was doing in each moment. We can easily get caught up in “what comes next” in our lives and miss what God is doing right now. Instead of trying to tell the future or look ahead, we could find much more peace and joy if we adopted a heart like Mary — a heart that “keeps all these things” — trusting that God knows the journey and will lead us to where we need to be.