On Mary's Obedience

Reflection on Mic 5:1-4; Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; Heb 10:5-10; Lk 1:39-45

Mary, the mother of God and our mother, is the personification of the theme from the liturgical readings: we increase and abound in love as we become obedient to the call to communion and mission.

The angel Gabriel had just given Mary an incredible message, one that defied logic, tested her faith, risked her life and jeopardized her relationship with Joseph. A virgin, she was to conceive the Son of the Most High (Lk 1:32, 35), not through any relationship with a man but through the power of the Holy Spirit (Lk 1:34, 35). The solitary sign that the angel gave Mary to gain her trust was the news that her relative Elizabeth, who was old and barren, was six months pregnant. Mary responded by believing and obeying in faith: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38).

Mary was obedient to the call to communion: “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus” (Lk 1:31). Prior to the annunciation, Mary was already one in spirit with the Lord. She was born without sin and remained holy throughout her life. By her “fiat”, Mary completely united her will with God’s will, which was for her to provide a body for His Son (Heb 10:5). She thus became one flesh with the Lord: Jesus is the flesh and bone of Mary. Her womb was home to the unborn Babe for nine months. Mary was the living Ark of the New Covenant (Rev 11:19, 12:1), the covenant that made us one family and Church with God as our Father and Head.

Mary was obedient to the call to mission. Her first mission was one of will, to agree to become the mother of mankind’s Savior. Thus she united herself to His mission. Her second was to proclaim the Good News to Elizabeth and Zechariah. This required her to travel from Nazareth in Galilee to the hill town in Judea believed to be Ein Kerem- an estimated distance of 100 kilometers. She hastened, for she was filled with the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit does not waste time (Mk 1:12). Mary carried the Word of God in her womb and in her voice. The Good News’ first encounter with man fulfilled the Lord’s purpose, for “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth (was) filled with the Holy Spirit” (Lk 1:41). God’s Word did not return to Him void but fulfilled His will (Is 55:11).

Because of Mary’s obedience, “the Lord has looked upon His handmaid’s lowliness” (Lk 1:48) and blessed her with abounding love. She conceived and gave birth to Love (1 Jn 4:8). Her love nurtured, shaped, strengthened, and sustained Jesus throughout His life. Although she stayed in the background during Jesus’ public ministry, her love for others was evident in her intercession in Cana (Jn 2:3, 5), and at Calvary, when Jesus entrusted the beloved disciple, representing the Church, to His beloved Mother (Jn 19:27). Acts 2:14 shows Mary carrying out this trust as she prayed with the disciples prior to the Pentecost. Tradition has Mary present to and inspiring the growing number of disciples in Jerusalem and Ephesus. She is forever one with her Son and all the saints in heaven in interceding for the Church. Truly, Mary’s own prophecy, “From now one will all ages call me blessed” (Lk 1:48), has come true.