Nothing Is Impossible With God
How often during the course of our lifetime have the words, “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death” crossed our lips and moved our minds and hearts toward God? During the season of Advent, we reflected on Mary’s consent to be the Mother of Jesus and all that this request required of her. Having said “yes” to God in accepting the motherhood of Jesus/God, Mary consented to the many risks, fears, surprises, joys, and unknowns that were to come into her life as being God’s mother.
When I take a look at Mary as mother of God, and ultimately mother of Jesus who became human for us, I see so many ways in which Mary was put into situations very similar to mothers of today and of yesterday. She experienced the joy and anticipation of giving birth and, at the same time, Mary was not spared the fears and anxieties that accompanied the consent she made to God. Numerous adjustments in life were the result of Mary’s “yes” to God. It must have been rather difficult for her to pack up, leave her home during pregnancy, and together with Joseph leave Nazareth and go to Bethlehem. I am sure many of us know mothers, maybe a relative or other close friend, who experienced something similar to what Mary did. Much patience and trust was asked of Mary at this time. Is this not true of countless mothers who have come after her? Or again, because she was the Mother of God, Mary was forced to relocate a second time when her child, Jesus, was still very young. She and Joseph were warned of Herod’s plot to take the life of Jesus.