Assumption
By honouring Mary we are also honouring a woman who led a humble life – but an extraordinary life being born without sin and having the courage to say yes to God to become the Mother of Jesus. Would we have done the same? We know almost nothing about Mary’s life. The Gospels are silent about her, apart from a couple of small points.
My vision of Mary is as a woman who grew up within a normal family. I imagine her learning from her mother to keep a garden, to cook and clean for her family. I see her working and watching as her son grew, wondering what his life would be and what was in store for him. Was she surprised when at a young age he stayed at the temple engrossed in a theological debate? Maybe not. But how she must have worried about what would become of him as he questioned the Pharisees and challenged the established view.
Despite her fears she accepted all that happened, even when her son rebuked her when she suggested he address the lack of wine at the wedding at Canna. She knew he would act telling the attendants “Do whatever he tells you”.
To honour Mary we must be influenced by her humility, her sense of duty to family and her love of God. She would have honoured her family by gardening, cooking and caring in the traditional sense. She honoured God and showed her love by accepting the invitation of the Angel Gabriel to be the mother of God. And so we honour Mary when we care for our own families. There might not be a garden, and cooking and cleaning are more often shared tasks today. Perhaps the most important way we show our love and care might be by listening and being accepting. Continue to pray with our family and for them. Mary shows us how to listen and encourage as those close to u take their own path in our world. We may not understand their lives but like Mary through prayer we can come to accept and support them.
God Bless — Jane Kelly
