A common misconception about the Church is how they devalue women. If you truly knew Mother Mary and her role in the Church and our faith, you’d know this is far from the truth. Mother Mary, I believe is the ultimate and perfect role model for us women. Her role in Jesus’ life reveals to us the true significance of all women.
There are many reasons as to why I love Mother Mary, but I’ll choose to focus on her role in Jesus’ life here on earth. I think it is important for us to honour our Mother’s womanhood, her strength and her dignity.
Looking at Jesus’ Passion and death, I see Mary’s bravery. Every time I watch ‘The Passion of the Christ’, I am without fail, left in awe of her strength. The way she stood by her beloved Son and wept as they tortured Him and crucified Him - I can only imagine the unbearable pain she would’ve felt.
Mary walking by Jesus’ side as He carried the Cross, and her standing at the foot of Cross does not depict weakness, rather it reveals her great strength. She shows complete submission to God’s will. She knows that her Son is divine, that He is the Son of God, greater than her and that He knows all. She accepts the suffering and chooses to stay by His side and express her love in the ways that she can. She knows that this is all for a greater purpose, and she knew that from the moment she said ‘Yes” to the Angel Gabriel, and was entrusted to carry Jesus in her womb. Since then, she lived her life according to God’s plan.
Because of Mother Mary’s obedience, submission and great strength, I think we often think of her as distant from us. However, Mother Mary is a real person, a human being, just like us! She knows what it means to suffer and to see her loved ones suffer. She knows what it means to surrender to God’s will even though it is not easy. Mary devoted her life, caring for and honouring her Son. She showed strength in her faith and love for Him. Her Immaculate heart, her generosity, vulnerability, strength and dignity show us how to live out our identities. She shows us how we should live our lives in honour of Him. She is the perfect example of authentic femininity and beauty, of how women should be honoured and valued. If we open ourselves to God’s will like Mary did, He can work in our lives in the most beautiful ways, beyond our imagination.
Before Jesus died, He told His beloved disciple who stood with Mary at the foot of the Cross, ‘Behold your mother.’ These words were meant for us too. He entrusts us all to His Mother, enabling her to also be our Mother. He extends her love and her heart to us. She is never too far from us. Her Immaculate Heart never fails to run to our aid. She who is closest to our Lord Jesus Christ can present the prayers of our hearts directly to Him.
I pray that all women may find a connection with our Mother, that we may find a part of our own identities within her.
As it is the month of Mary, as well as Mother’s Day, may we honour our Mother Mary, our mothers both biological and spiritual, and all women. Let us thank God for the gift of our mothers, for the gift of motherhood and for the Immaculate and maternal heart of our Mother Mary.
“From Mary, we learn to surrender to God’s will in all things.
From Mary, we learn to trust even when all hope seems gone.
From Mary, we learn to love Christ her Son and the Son of God.”
– St John Paul II
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