IF MARY CAME TO THE MICROPHONE,
WHAT WOULD SHE SAY?

INTRODUCTION

Today being the birthday, today being one of the several feasts of Mary throughout the Church Year, I thought I’d make a few comments about Mary. This would be entitled, “If Mary Came to the Microphone, What Would She Say?”

I don’t know how to answer that question – other than saying I prefer to go to the gospels – and reflect upon what she says there.

I am aware and have done a bit of research on so called “revelations from Mary” that have appeared down through the centuries. I am aware that some people regard them as gospel truth and others regard them as imaginings and at times hallucinations from different folks.

The Catholic Church has studied and come out with letters about various so called “revelations from Mary” – saying either you don’t have to accept these writings or we reject these writings. Yet that has not stopped people from selling “Revelations from Mary” as Gospel truth. (1)

WHAT MARY SAID IN THE GOSPELS IS SIGNIFICANT
Mary does not say much in the gospels, but what she says and does not say is very significant for growth in the spiritual life – by a Christian.

If I pictured Mary going to the microphone to say something, I would use Luke and John as my sources.

I would pick out these life moments from the gospels:

1) THE ANNUNCIATION MOMENT

Mary would say that the Annunciation moment was the beginning. She would say she was surprised – but she also and questioned. Then she might say, “I said to the Lord, ‘I am your handmaid, your servant, do to me what you want.” (2)

For our spiritual life I would assume the message is to talk and ask questions to God in prayer about life’s experiences – as they come to us – life’s big moments: relationships, marriage, pregnancy, raising kids, seeing kids leaving home, wondering how they are doing, and being there for them – especially in the tough times – as they experience life as well as the way of the cross.

2) VISITATION MOMENTS
When someone could use our presence, be there. Our souls have been created to magnify the Lord.

For a deeper spiritual life, say and pray the Magnificat. (3)

3) EXPERIENCES – PONDERING AND TREASURING THE MOMENTS

In Luke after Mary gives birth to Jesus in the stable, we read that Mary pondered, treasured, reflected, and wondered about the things that were happening. (4)
I see Mary as one who did a lot of deep thinking – more than talking.

“Blessed is the fruit of her womb.” How are we like our parents?

I see Jesus being like Mary – one who did a lot of pondering about life’s moments. When Jesus finally left home and began to speak his sayings and parables, he had thought these things out slowly and deeply. I am not one of those who say, “Oh, he was God and they just popped out his God Mind.” I say he was totally human as well – and it took him time to clarify his mission in life as well as craft his sayings and stories.

Reading the life of Jesus – seeing it unfold – as he made his way to Jerusalem and the cross, Mary knew what was happening as well. Luke says just that – having the angel say to her when Jesus was a kid, “A sword shall pierce your heart – and as a result – the thoughts of many will be revealed.” She knew the cross and life’s sufferings – what it is to lose a child – what it is like to see a son killed. (5)
I would assume this is why both Mary and Jesus have been pictured with their hearts exposed – and sometimes their heart in their hands.

4) DO WHATEVER HE TELLS YOU

Next I would turn to the gospel of John. Read the story about the Marriage Feast of Cana. Mary says to the waiters at that wedding, “Do whatever he tells you.” (6)

Print those 5 words, “Do whatever he tells you” onto a card and use that card as a marker for your Bible. As you read the 4 gospels, as you ponder the events there and the parables and sayings of Jesus, then look at the words on your Bible marker and then do whatever Jesus tells you to do.

Doing this we’ll see the water of our life – sometimes floods – sometimes tears – become transformed into the wine of life – and we’ll be celebrating the marriage of God to us because of Christ.

5) THE END

Every movie and every life has the words, “The End”.

At the end of the gospels we hear that Mary was under the cross – but she is very much background music. Presence. (7)
I take as a life message to be there at both births and deaths – and be there in support of others in the moments in between.

CONCLUSION

That’s it, but we know that’s not the end of it all.

There is hope and resurrection.

There is new beginnings. Check out The Acts of the Apostles for how Mary is present in new life of the Church. (8)

Next read the gospels and then compare them to Mary’s impact on the Church for 2000 years. She has been pictured as model, mystery and mirror. I look into her icons and see the Story of my life as well.

So life begins with our conception – and then our birth – and Mary’s life tells us that life is so much more. (9)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Picture on top: Centerpiece of the Moulin's Triptych [1498-99] by the Master of Moulins, Jean Hay, a Flemish Northern Renaissance Painter. In the Moulins Cathedral, Burgundy, France

(1) Catechism of the Catholic Church, cf. # 67 and Paragraph 6, 963-975


(2) Cf. Luke 1: 26-38


(3) Cf. Luke 1: 39-56


(4) Cf. Luke 2:19


(5) Cf. Luke 2: 22-35


(6) Cf. John 2:1-12


(7) Cf. John 19: 25-27


(8) Acts of the Apostles 1:14


(9) I have a whole series of meditations on the mysteries of the Rosary earlier on in this blog [5-30-08].