Could we Walk a Mile in Mary’s Shoes?
During this time of our Church year we are recalling and preparing for a deeper birth of Christ in our hearts. I often wondered how you and I would have walked in Mary’s sandals. Was she that different than you and me?
-Did she live in a “normal,” Jewish family?
-Did she always have strong faith and trust or did she have to learn and grow through life experiences as we do?
-Did she wonder, question, worry, and pray for more understanding?
-Was the Word of God as freely available to her, being female, as it is for us today?
-Did she ever think that she could be the mother of the Saviour that was promised so long ago?
-Her fear, anxiety, and questions when the angel appeared to her surely made her very human, didn’t it?
-Did she wonder and question God about how Joseph would react to her pregnancy? Is this really happening to me?
She was indeed human and teaches us much. Mary came to show us how to place all the mysteries of our lives in our hearts as she did several times beginning with the Shepherds sharing what the Angel had spoken to them. (Luke 2:19) “As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.” She shows us how to replace human worry and grief with God’s Word and promises which grew her faith and trust as it does ours. Faith grows slowly but it is in the doing that we become. It is in placing these mysteries in our hearts and trusting that all will be well.
She received confirmations of her call to motherhood. Elizabeth inspired by the Holy Spirit addressed her as the Mother of my Lord.
Simeon prophesied that a sword would pierce Mary’s soul. Several times it did; once when 12 years old Jesus was found in the temple, he said to her, “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I must be about my Father’s business?”
The wedding feast of Cana may have brought some deep hurt, as well. When she told Jesus about the bridegroom’s embarrassment, He turned to her and asked, “Women, what do you want from me? My hour has not come yet.”
Did the painful question of, “Who is my mother?” cause her to feel rejected and deeply pierce her heart? Did she have the same difficulty we do in letting go of our children?
She had to lay aside her special relationship to Jesus as His Mother to freely accept her Motherhood back, in a new context, in the Family of God, the believing Church.
Do you think you & I COULD or ARE walking in Mary’s sandals?
BIBLIOGRAPHY
-MARY study set –Catholic Bible Study Program
-A Biblical Walk with the Blessed Mother – Edward SRI
-A Woman Can Teach. Study set -Alice Mathews