Last week I looked at some ways mothers shape us.
Mothers
- Provide a holding place for everyone’s feelings
- Teach us how to function as adults
- Support us with our dreams
I especially focused on how Mary made sense of her life by “keeping” the good and the painful things that she experienced as Mother of Jesus and “pondering” both in the light of her faith.
This week let’s look at how Mary modeled living life as Church
My mother always…
Mothers also model living life. Who among us does not recognize that, while not perfect, they become models for our life?
My mother always said… Certainly, with their words, they taught us many things.
My mother always did… But actions speak louder than words. I am willing to bet you adopted many of her ways of doing and looking at things. Perhaps most of what she taught came from observing her.
So let’s listen to what Mary says.. and observe what she does.
Mary as our mother as church today
What does Mary as Mother of the Church model for us? Many things! But especially what I like to call, a ministry of presence… something mothers are expert in!
Bishop Barbarito of Palm Beach offers this summary of Mary’s “ministry of presence”. Each sentence needs to be unpacked in terms of how Mary models how to be present to the Body of Christ today.
The presence of Mary at events in the ministry of the Lord is also affirmed by the Gospels telling us that people with whom Jesus was speaking told Him on occasions that his Mother was there (cf Matt 12:46-50; Mk 3:31–35; Lk 8:18-21).
As we reflect upon so many other incidents in the life of Jesus, such as His baptism, the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, the Sermon on the Mount, His Ascension, and countless others, we cannot discount Mary’s possible presence, and I often wondered what her support and influence at them could imply.
St. Pope John Paul II frequently spoke of the presence of Mary at the Last Supper, not in terms of Her physically being at the table, but in terms of her being present since the Body and Blood of the Lord which He gave us on that occasion was from the body and blood of Mary.
He continues
Mary’s presence at events in the life of the Lord can be a support for us in better understanding the message of Christ and in discerning His indwelling within us and us in Him as paramount in our spiritual lives.
After the Resurrection of Christ, Mary could have very well been the focal point for the apostles. She held them together in a unique manner before the Holy Spirit came upon them at Pentecost. While they were still frightened and insecure before the coming of the Spirit, it was Mary who encouraged them and even brought them together.
She perfectly understood the message of her Son as well as the full meaning of His Cross and Resurrection. She handed onto them what she treasured in her heart during the life and ministry of Jesus.
We believe we are the body of Christ TODAY. Mary models for us how to be present to the Body of Christ in both the joyful and painful experiences Christ experiences in us as church, his Body TODAY.
There is so much to absorb… perhaps too much for a single hearing. I encourage you to visit the Miraculous Medal LiveStream link for this mass and homily or the text found on Vincentian Mindwalk
PS Next week, the third and final reflection on Mary – Mother of the Church. How Mary sings in harmony with God’s plan. Her song, the Magnificat, has been banned by dictators around the world.
Click below for an audio version of this Vincentian Mindwalk
This morning I was challenged to describe my favorite trip and invariably it gravitated to a railroad excursion on Amtrak that eventually led to the Grand Canyon. It was 32 years ago and still resonates with me. However, my experience at the time and when we did a similar journey again four years later was that it was too much to absorb. It was (and still is) impossible to take in all of the majesty, splendor, and beauty of it without being overwhelmed by it. I couldn’t fathom how the steady flow of water along seemingly unmovable rock could carve such a magnificent testament to the wonder of nature and God’s creation. But, like so many other things in life, it’s too much. There’s too much to see, to feel, to hear while there. It is pure sensory overload.
Although I have never been to Niagara Falls, for different reasons, I presume it has a similar sensation – total overload to the senses. Even something as simple as Skyline Drive in Virginia is too much. You can only grasp a small amount of it and you have to move on. I shudder to say that such experiences become “boring” but I was only able to appreciate so much and then my appreciation resource bag was totally empty.
Sometimes, I feel that way about Mary – there’s so much to her and her relationship with Jesus that I can’t take it all at once – there’s too much to appreciate about how she lived her life – how she was able to stitch the fabrics of her life together to make sense of them – how she taught God how to be God – how she challenged God to do more – how she served as an inspiration to the people of her own time.
So, I take Mary in small doses. When I try to use her as a model for my life, I fail so miserably that it leads to looking for excuses not to try any more.
But, I suppose that’s why she’s a life worth striving for – someone who endured so much uncertainty and heartbreak could still remain faithful and loving and caring for others.
I believe it was St Theresa of Calcutta who used to pray something similar to, “Mother Mary, be a mother to me and to the people around me.” Amen.
“So, I take Mary in small doses. When I try to use her as a role model for my life, I fail so miserably that it leads to looking for excuses not to try anymore.”
Thank you for sharing this. It is exactly how I feel and think so often. Now I know I am not the only one.