Who is Mary?

Today, I was asked to offer a reflection for our community on today's mass readings.  As we get ever so closer to the celebration of Christmas, we heard the story of the Annunciation (Lk 1:26-38).

"Annunciation" by Philadelphia artist H.O. Tanner

Who is Mary?  Who is this woman that we seek to model and follow on our path of discipleship towards Jesus?  Who is this Mary that we vow our honor to?  Who is Mary?  

Who is Mary?  The Angel Gabriel tells us that she is a young woman, betrothed to Joseph.  She is full of grace, and God is with her.  She is the mother of Jesus, the Son of God.  She is filled with the Holy Spirit.  She has found favor with God.  When we think of Mary, all these things come to mind, and truly they are correct.

Who is Mary?  However, as I was praying with these readings, I discovered another side of Mary.  We are told in the story of the Annunciation that Mary was greatly troubled.  She didn’t understand what the Angel was saying.  She stopped and pondered.  Her reaction wasn’t an immediate response to God.  She couldn’t believe the words of the Angel, even asking “How can this be?”    Here, we find a confused and bewildered young woman.

In these ways, she is similar to Ahaz of the first reading (Is 7:10-14).  He didn’t understand the request of the Lord from the mouth of the prophet.  He, too, seemed to question God’s plan.  And, as we heard yesterday, Mary is like Zachariah (Lk 1:5-25) who was troubled and fearful when the angel appeared.  He questioned the plan of God and could not believe the words of the angel.  Three people who were asked something from God and questioned God.

But, at the same time, Mary is so very different from these two.  Whereas Ahaz refused to respond to God, and whereas Zechariah refused to believe, Mary did respond to God and she did believe.  Who is Mary?  She is the woman who, despite her fear, despite her confusion, despite the difficulty of believing, said “Yes.”  Mary is the woman of great trust and hope.  She is the woman who believed that the Holy Spirit would fill her with God’s graces.  She is the woman who courageously said “I am your servant” and in doing so, changed the world. 

I am reminded of the song "Breath of Heaven" made popular by many artists.  It expresses many of the sentiments of Mary’s “yes.”  In the form of a prayer, the refrain of the song is:

Breath of Heaven, hold me together 

Be forever near me, Breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness

Pour over me Your holiness for You are holy
Breath of Heaven

In poetic terms, we might imagine that this was Mary’s prayer, and it is the difference that sets her apart from the others.  She trustingly prays for God’s breath to overcome her, and she knows it will.  She prays for God to be near, and she knows that God is with her.  She prayers for light in her darkness, and she knows that God will illumine her life.  She prays for God to pour out God’s grace, and she knows that God will give her the needed grace.

Who is Mary?  She is the one who trusted the love and will of God.  She is the one who could say “yes” even though she was afraid and confused.  Mary is our model of faith and trust in God.  Let us go forth this day, trying to have this same trust in God, trying to be like Mary – praying to know the Breath of heaven in our lives.

Ciao!

Our Lady of Guadalupe

On December 12, we celebrate Mary under the name Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Below is a reflection that I have written for our community mass and some pictures of Mary that I have taken around Europe.

 

Who is Mary?  Who is this woman to whom we dedicate our lives each day? 

For some, she is Our Lady of the Pillar.  For others Our lady of Providence.  Then there is Our Lady of Nazareth, and Notre Dame d’Afrique.  We just celebrated Mary of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Loretto.  Many titles for the Mother of God.

Today, we celebrate and honor Mary under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Now, for those in Rome, it might not mean too much.  But for those in Mexico, the United States, and all the Americas, we celebrate her in a special way because she is the patroness of the Americas. 

In 1531, Mary appeared to Juan Diego, a humble native American, on a hillside near present-day Mexico City.  She requested that a church be built on the site.  The Bishop dismissed Juan Diego but was persuaded after he brought a bunch of roses, a rare site in the midst of winter.  Mary’s image was also imprinted on Juan Diego’s simple cloak.  

   

 These stories and miracles are probably good enough in themselves.  They have led to a strong devotion to Mary, especially among the peoples of Latin America.  And the Basilica today is a busy site for pilgrims from all over.  However, what I probably like best about the story is that Mary appeared to Juan Diego as a Native Person herself and she spoke his native language.  She was the not the blond hair, blue eye Madonna of Europe.  But, she came as one of the native peoples.  For me, and perhaps for you, this is the message of the feast for all people.  Mary comes to us as one of us.  She is like us.

Mary is first a disciple of Jesus, like we try to be.  Mary heard the call of God and said “yes.”  This is what we are trying to do, too.  Mary doubted, prayed, wept, rejoiced, believed…all things that we do on our own pilgrimage of faith.  The American theologian Elizabeth Johnson wrote a book on Mary and called it: “Truly our Sister.”  This is an apt title for Mary whom we celebrate today.  She is our sister who walks among us, who guides us, and who encourages us in our journey of faith.

In today’s readings, we hear a message of hope and of consolation.  The prophet Isaiah speaks of God who is creator of the heavens and earth.  Those who trust in this creator “will renew their strength, they will soar on eagles’ wings; they will run and not grow weary, walk and not grow faint.”  The example of Mary reminds us of this promise.  She, as handmaid of the Lord, knew that God would do great things in her.  God was her strength and her energy.  As she walks among us, she reminds us to put our faith and trust in the God who made us and loves us.

 

In the Gospel we hear Jesus say, “Come to me” and “learn from me.”  Our God is not a distant God directing things from the heavens, but a God who is near to us and who is inviting us to himself.  Again, Mary welcomed this invitation from the Lord.  She wholeheartedly gave her life to Jesus and learned his way of love.  This is our call - to give our lives to Jesus following the example of Mary.

Today we celebrate Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe.  May we be reminded that Mary is with us, walking with us on our pilgrimage of faith.  As she appeared to Juan Diego so many years ago, let us pray that Mary be with us and bring to us Jesus.  And may we do the same today to those we meet.

 

Of course, for the community I will give this in Italian...Here's a little taste: 

Oggi, noi ricordiamo ed onoriamo Maria sotto il titolo di Nostra Signora di Guadalupe. Ora, per quelli di Roma, non potrebbe significare troppo. Ma per quelli in Messico, gli Stati Uniti, e tutte le Americhe, noi la festeggiamo in modo speciale perché lei è la patrona delle Americhe.  

Ciao!