Holy Wednesday: Mary of Nazareth

Mary of Nazareth

Mary has always been a central figure in Christianity. She has always been absolutely key; right from that moment early in Luke's Gospel when she's told "Blessed are you amongst women".

Mary would probably have been as young as 12 when she was betrothed to Joseph, marrying when she was around 14/15 years old. Women in a First Century context were, for the most part, devoid of legal and economic rights. Mary grew up in a highly charged political atmosphere. This puts into context the Magnificat, which in many ways is a statement of liberation: spiritual, economic and political.

Galilee was occupied by Romans and would have been an oppressing place for the Jews. If a Roman soldier said "you've got to carry my backpack one mile", they'd have to do it; they had no option. The Romans forced the Jews to pay taxes to Caesar.

One can imagine there was talk about trusting in God and that maybe in their lifetime he would send a Messiah. They may have thought that this could be the time for the Saviour to come. And it was in this highly charged theological atmosphere that Mary wove her way to the well, perhaps holding in her arms the infant Jesus.

Mary of Nazareth would have watched her eldest son grow, observed him work alongside Joseph, and leave home. There were times when Mary seems to have thought that her son was ‘mad’ and with other members of the family tried to restrain him.

Mary would undoubtedly have watched the events following Palm Sunday unfold with maternal horror. She would have expected such an eventuality though. This does not necessarily imply divine foresight, rather a realistic assessment of what happens to those who undertook prophetic actions in the capital city of a country occupied by Imperial Rome.

 Mary remained loyal to her son, staying with him to the bitterest of ends, and one might imagine that her own passion was nearly as great (in a sense) as her son’s.

Biblical Text – Luke 1

‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
⁴⁷     and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
⁴⁸ for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
    Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
⁵² He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
    and lifted up the lowly;
⁵³ he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
⁵⁵ according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
    to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

Questions

1.    Can you remember the first time you heard, said or sung the Magnificat?

2.    How important is Mary for you?

3.    She was given a gift by God. Like so many gifts, they are not ours to keep. What gifts have you given away?

Reflection for Holy Wednesday

Cradled once, and then laid in a wooden manger

Cradled again, after been laid on a wooden cross

God’s gift, mother’s anguish

The most tender of gifts

The most bitter maternal tears

And then in the morning, to the tomb

Clothes folded neatly

And mother knew her bird had flown

© Kevin Ellis