1.
MARY IS BETROTHED TO JESUS (Mt. 1, 18)
This is how
Jesus Christ was born. Mary his mother had been given to Joseph in marriage but
before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy
Spirit”
Mary accepts
to be the wife of Joseph. Every marriage starts with an acceptance. It’s a life long acceptance that has to
endure. Mary accepts and becomes the
wife of Joseph.
2.
MARY IS A COMMITTED WIFE (Lk 1, 38)
“Then Mary
said “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said” and
the Angel left her.”
When Mary
says YES it is unconditional. There are
no if’s and buts. She accepts to be
Joseph’s wife without any reservations.
And at all times. It is a total
commitment and an acknowledgement /submission to God’s plan.
Mary’s YES
remains in the affirmative till the end.
3.
MARY IS FAITHFUL TO HER HUSBAND (Lk 1,34 and 38)
“Then Mary said to the Angel,
“How can this be if I am a virgin?”
Mary is concerned that her
faithfulness and chastity is in question and in this situation how can she face
Joseph leave alone becoming his wife.
But when the angel explains how she will be the mother of Jesus, she
understands that she can carry out God’s plan and also remain faithful to
Joseph.
The fidelity of Mary is seen in
her chaste relationships.
4.
MARY IS OBEDIENT TO HER HUSBAND (Mt. 2, 13-15)
“Joseph got up took the child
and his mother, and left that night for Egypt where he stayed until the death
of Herod”.
Mary does not question Joseph’s
authority/decisions. Her obedience is not out of compulsion, but mature
obedience resulting from the confidence in Joseph and God’s plan. Even in most difficult circumstances Mary
listens to the instructions of Joseph.
5
MARY LOVINGLY RELATES TO HER HUSBAND (Lk 2, 44-45)
“They
thought he was in the Company and after walking the whole day they looked for
him among relatives and friends. As they did not find him, they went back to
Jerusalem searching for him”
Mary after
knowing that Jesus is not with them does not react with accusations and cross
arguments. She with Joseph looks for
Jesus among the company and not finding him goes back with Joseph to look for
him.
6.
MARY RESPECTS HER HUSBAND (Lk,2, 48)
“Your father
and I were very worried while searching for you”
Mary when
questioning Jesus mentions Joseph’s name and thereby impresses on Jesus that
both his father as well as mother were concerned and looking for him. Mary puts
her husband first.
7.
BY DISPLAYING THESE QUALITIES MARY AS A
WIFE
IS A PRICELESS PEARL
In today’s context:
Promising – keeping up to the betrothal/promise made through a total
acceptance.
Prayerful – Through prayer seeking Divine assistance to keep the
promise and to accept and understand God’s plan.
Eager – To live up to the commitment and have a chaste and
faithful relationship.
Energetic – To adapt to all situations and be flexible to support
her husband’s decisions or situations.
Ardent – To relate to her husband and understand him so as to
meet his needs. And to be sensitive to
his emotions etc.
Respectful – Give the husband the appropriate place no matter what his
status outside the family.
Responsible – Understand the role a husband has in the family and
allow the role to be played.
Simultaneously correct any over lapping through discussion and dialogue.
Loving – Just as God was to his people – the people of Israel and
Jesus is to the Church so also as St. Paul writes to the Ephesians.
Luminous – Radiate Jesus to her husband and be a light to him.
1.
MOTHERHOOD & CARING CONCERN (LK 1, 39-40)
“Mary then
set out for a town in Hills of Judah”
Mary coming
to know that Elizabeth is going to have a baby sets out to help her despite her
own condition. “Motherhood of Mary goes
beyond leaps and bounds.”
2.
MARY IS THE MOTHER OF JESUS (LK 2, 6-7)
“They were
in Bethlehem when the time came for her to have her child and she gave birth to
a son, her first born.
By choosing
Mary as the mother of Jesus, it was the greatest gift God could give Mary. Eve was the woman who brought sin to the
world, but Mary through her motherhood brought salvation.
“Motherhood
is the greatest gift to Mankind.”
3.
MOTHERHOOD AND AWARENESS (LK 2, 19)
“As for
Mary, she treasured all these messages and continually pondered over them.”
Mary never
let anything pass by. Whatever she
heard and was told to her she listened to the messages, be it though the
Angels, shepherds or any other source. She thought over it and thus prepared
herself for the reality – “Observe – Judge – Act”.
“Mary as a
mother always had the sixth sense”.
4.
MOTHERHOOD A GREAT SACRIFICE (LK 2, 35)
“He shall
stand as a sign of contradiction while a sword will pierce your own soul”.
Even though
Mary is warned of the pain and sorrow to come, she is prepared to perform her
role as a mother.
“A genuine
mother is ever ready to consume herself for her children”.
5.
MOTHERHOOD RESOLVES ANY CRISES (Jn 2 3-5)
“The mother
of Jesus said to him, They have no wine”
However his
mother said to the servants. “Do
whatever he tells you.”
Mary as a
mother understands the needs and difficulties not only within her family but
also of other families. She reaches out.
“Motherhood
understands the difficulties of others.”
6.
MOTHERHOOD OF MARY IS UNIVERSAL” (Jn 19, 25-27)
“He said to
the mother “Woman, this is your son.
Then he said to the disciple “There is your mother”.
Motherhood
of Mary does not stop at her doorstep or with her immediate family only. Her motherhood embraces all outside and
beyond her family.
“Mary as a
mother embraces all her children and intercedes for them all.
We therefore can conclude that “Mary
as a mother is a Dazzling Diamond”
In todays context:
Dynamic – Ever alert, aware and able to read and decipher the
signs of the times.
Daring – To be able to fight the tide and thus lead her children
and family and imbibe good Christian values.
Integral – Build up her integrity by practicing and witnessing good
moral conduct.
Inspiring – with the power of the Holy Spirit the Children and
family though prayer and example.
Active – Always serving and being available to the children and
families all around, available for any crisis.
Accommodating – Never getting disappointed or disheartened but taking
everything in her stride.
Magnanimous – Motherhood is universal. It encompasses all. It
calls for great sacrifices forgetting oneself.
Merciful – Calls for a high level of reconciliation and the ability
to accept back all no matter what they have done.
Open – The ability to listen, understand and to be approachable
to all. No favoritisms.
Obliging – To have a solution for all problems and situations.
Noble – To be able to rise above all situations and be like the
New Eve – brining new life to family.
Dedicated / Determined – Ability to continue with God’s plan and the vocation of
motherhood. Keeping this vocation as
the primary objective and others such as career, money, etc. next.
Partners in mission
Equal in dignity
Acceptance of each other
Responsible for family
Loving and life giving