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The Mother
The Bible has few words to say about Mary, but those few words tell the most amazing story of creation.
As we have noted, the chosen people of Israel were set apart by God to bring forth a virgin, suitable as a mother to the Christ. It can be appreciated, easily, that the woman destined to be the mother of the God-made-man, must be appropriate to the purpose. To be 'appropriate' can mean only one thing - to be the pinnacle of perfection in all creation.
When the great angel appeared to the Virgin, he said, Hail full of grace; the Lord is with you. Gabriele also stated, Blessed are you among women, and these words suggest to us that Mary excels above the beings of this planet.
Blessed is the fruit of your womb, said Gabriele and hereby asked Mary to be Mother of the Messiah. Having ensured that her virginity would remain intact, Mary said her yes: behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done to me according to thy words. (Luke 1)
Here we note that God required the cooperation of the Woman.
In other words, the Redemption of all creation
relied on her affirmative reply.
The New Testament records Mary as stating: All generations shall call me blessed. (Luke 1) Indeed, all generations have called her blessed.
From the reverse angle it can then be said that any part of a generation who has not venerated the mother of the Saviour, has failed the Gospel.
When Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, welcomed Mary, she asked, How is it that the mother of my Lord should visit me? Elizabeth, in spite of the outstanding honour paid her by God, was very much aware of the higher dignity and status of Mary and of the Infant in her pure womb.
The Gospel, through Elizabeth in Luke 1, here
declares Mary to be Mother of God!
And it was Elizabeth who exclaimed: At the instant I heard your voice, the child within my womb leapt for joy. And Elizabeth herself was filled with the Holy Spirit'.
Note the fantastic fact that
the Holy Spirit filled Elizabeth
and that the child leapt in her womb,
as a result of Mary's greeting.
At the wedding at Cana, even though Jesus said: Nay, woman, why dost thou trouble me with that? My time has not come yet, it was Mary who took control of the situation when she instructed, do whatever He tells you, knowing her Son would do her bidding on the matter of wine shortage. So, in Cana, of Galilee, Jesus began His miracles, and made known His glory that was His....
Here too, we see that
it was at the word of Mary (the woman of Scripture),
that Jesus not only performed the miracle of the wine
but, from that moment,
set out on His Mission of Redemption.
Mary, then, was the impulse for Jesus to begin His Mission.
When, at the age of twelve, Jesus remained in the temple, lost to Mary and Joseph for three days for He was about His Father's work. We are informed that Jesus returned with them and was subject to them. How marvellous was Mary and Joseph that Jesus subjected Himself to them!
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