WHY MARY MATTERS

Early in our lives we learn the importance of having good role models.  The same is true when it comes to living in holiness: we must look to people who have lived the Christian life to a heroic degree so that we can learn from them.  This is one of the reasons in the Catholic tradition that we honor the saints.  The saints comprise the Holiness Hall of Fame.  They inspire us.

Among the saints, however, there is one woman whom every saint looked to for inspiration: the Blessed Virgin Mary.  Yet Mary is more than just another good Christian role model.  She is the embodiment of Christian holiness.  Therefore, it is important that we give her the proper honor due to her, for God chose her to be the Mother of our Savior.  That’s a really big deal!

So what are the lessons we learn from Mary’s life?  There are several, but here I offer five for our encouragement and inspiration.

TRUST

Do you realize that Mary was just a young teenage girl when the angel Gabriel appeared to her announcing that she would be the mother of our Savior?  Did you know that she was literally putting her life on the line by saying yes to the angel, for to be pregnant before marriage in her culture was a punishable offense?  Surely she had many questions and much uncertainty; however, uncertain of the future, she trusted God completely.  Mary teaches us the importance of rejecting fear and embracing trust in the Lord, particularly when we are dealing with great uncertainty about our future.

OBEDIENCE

Have you ever thought about the historical and spiritual impact of Mary’s answer to Gabriel?  Her “yes” literally changed history, and we have all been affected.  When she said yes she conceived Christ and brought him to birth.  She was the chosen vessel for the Savior.  True, God could have chosen another way to come to us, but He chose Mary and she cooperated.  Mary teaches us the importance of obedience to the Lord and saying yes to Him in our lives, whatever He asks of us.  Just as Mary said yes to the angel and conceived and gave birth to Christ, when we are obedient to the Lord in our lives, we conceive Christ in our hearts and give birth to Him in the world by bringing His presence to others.  God is counting on us to say yes to Him as Mary did.

SELFLESSNESS

Mary was literally the vessel of the Lord.  Love Incarnate chose her womb as His dwelling place.  We, too, are dwelling places of the Lord.  But Mary teaches us that God’s presence in us is not simply meant for ourselves but ought to be shared.  We see this truth exemplified in her life immediately after she conceives.  She decides at that point to go and assist her older cousin Elizabeth who is also pregnant with John the Baptist.  The lesson here is clear: union with Jesus leads to self-forgetful service of others.

HUMILITY

Mary’s silence in the scriptures teaches us something very significant: God does great things through the humble.  One of the most important virtues in the Christian life is humility.  Clearly, Mary had no desire to overshadow her Son; rather, she said simply and powerfully: “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5).  Authentic love and devotion to Mary will always lead us to a deeper love of Jesus.  She always points us to deeper friendship with Him.  Mary has always been likened to the moon which has no light of its own but beautifully reflects the light of the sun.  The same should be true for us: we should not seek our own glory; rather, we should aspire to reflect the light of Christ to others.

HOPE IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING

Mary journeyed with Jesus to the cross, and there she suffered with Him as any mother would as they watch their child dying.  At the foot of the cross, Simeon’s prophecy is fulfilled that a sword of sorrow would pierce Mary’s heart.  Yet, as Mary gazed upon her dying Son, she did not despair.  In her sorrow, she remained hopeful knowing “that all things work for good for those who love God” (Romans 8:28).  She knew that God’s plan would be accomplished.  It is important for us to look to Mary when we are suffering and in sorrow.  She teaches us that sorrow and hope are not contradictory.  In fact, she teaches us that it is by hoping in the Lord that any sorrow in our lives will be conquered.

There are so many other lessons that Mary teaches us, but let these be a source for your own meditation.  Also, feel free to share some of the other lessons that you believe she teaches us.