Mary

I'm writing this on the first day of Advent.  The origins of Advent are a bit misty, originating in the early Catholic church.  As with most things in churchianity of all types and denominations, the history and reason for the Advent observance is fraught with conflicting theories, opinions and ideas.

There's another "advent" though that has been asking for my attention lately.  That is, the advent associated with the angel appearing to Mary to announce the coming of Christ.  The angel's first words to Mary are "Don't be afraid..."  (One reference is Luke 1:30.)  I think it's also worth noting in passing that the angel says to Joseph, "Don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife..." (Matt 1:20). 

There's an old joke that Mary was the perfect Jewish mother in that she was the mother of a doctor, her son was born to her while she was still a virgin and she thought her boy was the son of God. 

The admonition to Mary to not be afraid though I think is both for the moment and also serves as a foreshadowing of the future. Indeed, to be Jesus' mom was a tall mountain to climb.  Beginning with conception and birth circumstances, continuing on through child rearing, carpentry, at some point probably single motherhood, ministry, death and resurrection.  And the opening words by the messenger of God to Mary are, "Don't be afraid."  It seems that Mary takes the angel's words to heart, as she goes off to celebrate what has happened with her cousin who is experiencing a lesser yet still related miracle.

Years later, we see Jesus at the age of 12 teaching in the temple.  Mary and Joseph are a little frantic at Jesus' apparently not being where they expected him to be.  Eventually they find him and when they ask the 1st century equivalent of "What do you think you're doing?" he says, "Don't you not know that I have to be about my father's business?"  The bible says they thought about that some.  The bible doesn't say but I suspect that there was also a generous portion of, "Huh.  Okay.  Now...go - get - on - the - MULE!" or like construct.  Because at this point our creator and God was fully manifest as one of us.  Mary, perhaps of all people in history understood this then and understands this now more completely than any other human soul.

At the wedding feast at Cana, the tide is turned somewhat.  Mary says, "Jesus, they're all out of wine.  Do something."  Jesus says, "Now's not my time."  The bible doesn't record all of the next bit exactly like this but I can imagine Mary arching one eyebrow a bit, looking God square in the face and saying to everyone else there, "Do what he says to do", all the while talking directly to Jesus.  The subtext of course is, "And he WILL be doing what his mother requires that he do."  And amazingly, he (that is, God) actually does as she requires in that moment.  God abandons whatever concept of what "his time" is and chooses instead to honor his mom's wish of the moment. I think I'm on pretty safe ground to say he loved her and respected her...as his mom.  I can't think of another time when Jesus performed a miracle in response to a demand for one.

I want to fast forward to a less pleasant occasion.  Mary, was witness to the cross.  John 19:27 says roughly that Jesus, knowing he was not going to be around to fulfill his duties as a son, spoke to one of the disciples to the effect of, "Please take care of my mom."  It's hard to say why Jesus didn't call on his brothers but regardless, some of his last words concerned the ongoing care of his mom.

"Don't be afraid..."  Truly, Mary had much reason to fear.  I do not doubt that she had bad moments.  I know she wasn't perfect.   Still though, the bible records that she was indeed a loving, faithful and in-charge mom.

Jesus is the reason for Christmas.  Those of us who are protestant though tend to overlook his mom.  Those who are Catholic tend to diminish her humanity.  Taken as a real flesh and blood person though, she was amazing.  I don't know if there's another person in the bible who teaches more completely with the warp and woof of her very life what it means when God tells us, "Don't be afraid."