HOLY MARY MOTHER OF GOD
“Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord.”
Over the past few years, the word handmaid has taken on a negative connotation. In terms of today’s gospel, it has a gentle yet strong meaning. Mary was “greatly troubled” at the arrival of an angel at her doorstep and then confused upon hearing the message of the angel. She took some time to process the experience and then said, “I am the handmaid of the Lord.” Her trust in God allowed her to accept whatever her future held.
I do not always have the faith and trust that Mary exhibits. I wake up fretting in the middle of the night ruminating over things that are usually out of my control. Deep breathing and prayer sometimes give way to sleep, but not always.
I wonder if Mary had similar nights. Did she worry that she was not married but pregnant? Did she wonder how her elderly cousin Elizabeth would survive pregnancy and the labor and delivery of a baby? Did she ever shake her head asking God how all of this came to be that she was chosen to be the mother of Jesus, the unexpected but long-awaited Messiah?
Mary has become a role model for me over the past few years. I am convinced that statues and pictures of her as a demure young woman do not do justice to who she was. She had to be a strong woman prepared to stand up to what others thought of her and her son going forward with her head held high. She could not know with certainty the future of her child, but she had enough signs and intuition to know the road might be rocky and despite all of this she said “yes” to her part in God’s plan. She is an example of a woman of courage and faith.
Unlike Adam and Eve in the first reading, Mary draws me to her. She offers comfort, strength and faith. The second part of the Hail Mary has become a mantra for me especially in the dark of the night: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death”. The man and woman in the first reading, Adam and Eve, are like children. “It’s not my fault, she made me do it. It’s not my fault, the serpent made me do it.” For the first time, this reading made me laugh. In the past, it has made me agitated.
Two scripture passages, two different responses. For Advent, I am dismissing thoughts that cause me to become agitated and staying with those that offer peace. Mary, Mother of God, handmaiden of the Lord, and woman of strength, offers a path to follow. I imagine her as elegant, kind, smart, and hardworking, tempted by the dark thoughts of worry but not giving in to them.
What does Mary offer you this Advent? Where might Mary, the wise, strong wonderful mother of God, be leading you?
Anne Hansen
Photo credit: The Immaculate Conception painting by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo