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| The Our Father: Lent 2012 Retreat |
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Reflections on: Women Disciples of Jesus
Part 2: Mary of Nazareth, Mother and Disciple of Jesus
An Online Retreat prepared by Women at the Well Ministry, St. Paul, Minnesota
Eleanor Lincoln, CSJ and Catherine Litecky, CSJ
Ansgar Holmberg, CSJ
Courtesy of America, the National Catholic Weekly
“Behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.”(Luke 1:48)
In the New Testament Mary is the only adult person present at all of the significant moments in Jesus' life. We see her especially in the gospels of Luke and John; she is also present with the community of disciples in the Acts of the Apostles. We can walk with her and pray with her as we meet her in the scriptures.
In the earliest stories about Mary we focus on her motherhood, but even then she is a disciple who hears the word, acts fully upon it, and loves and remains with Jesus. We can see her as a strong and courageous Jewish woman, simple, unassuming, and hard-working, living in Palestine.
After the tremendous moment when she agreed to be the mother of Jesus, she learned the importance of trust. She spent her life as a disciple, wondering at the mystery of God's working in her life.
As a disciple yourself (who hears the word of God, acts according to it, and chooses to walk with Jesus), try to focus on Mary as a model disciple. Place yourself in a receptive mood and bring Mary as disciple into your mind and heart.
Pray: “Mary, disciple of Jesus, be with me during this retreat.”
Luke provides us with the most expanded view of Mary; for him both the good news of Jesus and the good news of Mary are closely interrelated.
Mary's first act at the Annunciation (1:26-38) is to be a disciple, then she becomes a mother as a consequence of her faith. Her conversation with God's messenger is really about Jesus but if God's plan is to be carried out, Mary needs to respond.
Mary is troubled (surprised? mystified?) when a strange being appears before her, but the angel quickly says, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). At this point she is in a position to receive God's gift of motherhood. But the gift is not yet hers until she says “yes.” As a disciple she hears the Good News (gospel) of all time, before she agrees to become a mother.
The fear she first feels is dissolved when she hears her name. Her question, “How can this be?” shows that Mary is practical and matter-of-fact. As we know, her response is the great proclamation of faith and trust, “according to your word,” makes salvation history “possible.” (Luke 1:34-38)
Mary does not consult with anyone before taking a step unique in history: on her own she accepts God's gift to be the mother of God. Because she is so completely receptive to God's word, she is the greatest and first disciple in the Gospel.
Ask yourself: when/if God has “spoken” to you through an experience, another person, an insight. How have you responded? Thank God for whatever awareness you have had of God's holy presence.
How does Mary respond to the news she has received? After the angel leaves her, Mary goes to Elizabeth “in haste.” She makes a difficult journey, 90 or more miles over mountainous territory, to be with her elderly cousin. Responding as a disciple, she does not think of herself but only of responding to God's message. She looks beyond herself and takes a bold step on her own. As a disciple, as well as an expectant mother, she brings Jesus to another.
At the Annunciation the Angel has said “for nothing will be impossible for God” (1:37). And the impossible has already happened to Elizabeth. At their Visitation (Luke 1:39-45) when the two pregnant women meet, they are both filled with the Holy Spirit. Elizabeth calls Mary “blessed” as one who believes (as a disciple) and “blessed” (as woman and as mother.)
Mary responds to Elizabeth with a song of joy at God's goodness. In the song we call the Magnificat (Luke 1:45-55), Mary expands on the “yes” she gave to the angel. In her Magnificat(“My soul magnifies the Lord”) she is the spokeswoman for all of us! When we sing or recite this great prayer of the church, we can join ourselves with Mary's “I” because God has done “great things” for all of us.
Think of one of the great things God has done in your life. Take a few moments to reflect on how you felt. Pray these opening words of the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-49):
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For [God] has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness;
behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is [God's] name.”
In the Nativity stories (in the early chapters of Matthew's and Luke's gospels)--which are so familiar to all of us--we see Mary as a disciple of her son as well as his mother, sharing him with his people and with foreigners. Mother and child are always together as one. In the stories of shepherd, angels, and wise men, we see her in her public role in presenting Jesus to the world. She is a bridge between Jesus' infancy and his ministry which has already begun with this birth.
Mary's reactions are very consistent with the rest of her life; she says nothing but she keeps all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Through her “pondering” (praying) she is preparing herself for all that is to come for this child--and for herself. Because she is a disciple, one who believes and who brings others to the Lord, she needs to keep reflecting on and interpreting the amazing events around her.
When Joseph and Mary bring their child to be presented in the Temple (Luke 2:25-40), Simeon, priest of the Temple, tells Mary that “this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel” and that “you yourself a sword will pierce,” the suffering any disciple of Jesus must undergo. Mary's destiny is linked completely with her son's destiny in this forewarning of suffering: of the child, of his mother, and indeed of all of us who struggle in the Kingdom today.
After the family returns to Nazareth, we know only that Jesus grows in strength and wisdom until he is twelve years old. We can imagine how Mary and Joseph cherish him. She is the teacher of the son to whom she is also disciple.
Never is Mary in complete control of what happens, but she always responds to the situation by being open to God's plan. This happens when she and Joseph lose Jesus and then find the 12-year-old Jesus teaching in the Temple (Luke 2:38-52). Mary addresses Jesus as “Son,” her first recorded word since her Magnificat.
She has had 12 years “to ponder” in preparation for the time when she must let go. Like the male disciples at Jesus' predictions of his death (Luke 18:34), Mary does not “understand.” Jesus' reply about being “about his father's business” is not a rebuff but it distances him from his parents.
Jesus' understanding amazes all who hear, and his parents are astonished--because of his learning? because he has left them? Mary has been pondering in her heart for twelve years and now she must let go as a mother of a teen-ager must.
As a disciple she knows it is time for her son be about his ministry. Mary's discipleship is developing as she learns, accepts, understands, and continues to “ponder.” Her role now is to function more as disciple than mother).
“Who is my mother?” Jesus asks later, as we are told in the gospels of Matthew (12:46-50), Mark (3:31-35), and Luke (8:19-21). Jesus is with his disciples carrying out his ministry when he is told that his mother and brothers are seeking him. He asks the question, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” (Matt. 12:39) Then pointing to his disciples gathered with him, he says, “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:35).
This is not a put-down of his mother but rather a great compliment! Jesus is acknowledging here that she is the greatest disciple! Who hears the word of God and keeps it more than Mary?
At the wedding feast at Cana (John 2:1-12) Mary initiates her son's public ministry, again exercising her discipleship. When the story opens, we find that Mary is well-known in the community. She is the one who has been invited to this occasion of social and religious celebration. Jesus is “also there,” having been invited along with his disciples.
In this situation Mary is the authority figure through whom God works to effect Jesus' initiation of his ministry. Having “pondered” or “held things in her heart” for 30 years, she sees the potential of her son.
At the beginning of the story Mary is called “mother of Jesus” but now Jesus separates himself from her by using the formal title: “Woman.” This respectful form of address is a universal title, suggesting that Mary represents all the people. He now places their relationship on the basis of discipleship more than motherhood.
His mother's words, “Do whatever he tells you,” shows her belief in him. Her will has always been so subject to God's will that in saying they “have no wine,” she reflects God's will that Jesus' hour should begin. And so Jesus performs a miracle which is so prophetic of his life and death.
At the wedding feast Jesus reveals his glory, and his disciples believe in him. But these are new, recently-called disciples, whereas Mary has been a disciple for 30 years. We might assume that Jesus' mother remains with them after they leave Cana. But she is not a mother who clings to her son; rather she is his disciple.
We can assume that Mary was never far from her son from then on, but she is explicitly mentioned in John's gospel at the foot of the cross (John 19:25-37). This brief dialogue occurs right in the middle of the crucifixion account.
When Jesus on the cross sees his mother and the disciple whom he loves, he says to his mother. “Woman, behold your son.” Then he says to the beloved and faithful disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple takes her into his home. Here at the foot of the cross family relationship and discipleship combine.
This is not the last time we hear of Mary, mother and disciple of Jesus, in the New Testament. At Pentecost (Acts of the Apostles 1:13-14; 2:1-4) Mary is again present with the other disciples, waiting with them in the upper room after the ascension.
“All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus was there” (1:14).
Here the Spirit of Love, which Jesus has promised, comes to them all.
We can imagine how the disciples continue to rely on Mary, Jesus' primary disciple, after the coming of the Holy Spirit. Mary is an essential member of the early Christian community for the rest of her earthly life.
How has your view of Mary changed? How can you identify with her as mother? as disciple?
Which gospel passage about Mary as disciple most speaks to you? Reflect on this for a few moments.
"Blessed are You" Courtesy of Ansgar Holmberg, CSJ
Now turn to Part 3: Martha of Bethany, Woman of Faith and Mary, Woman of Contemplation
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