Of Mary, Jesus, and Mother's Day

Jesus meets His Mother, IV (1998) by Adolf Lachman.

Luke 1:46-48

New International Version (NIV)

Mary’s Song

46 And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has been mindful

    of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

Matthew 1:21

King James Version (KJV)

21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

John 19:25-27

King James Version (KJV)

25 Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

This Mother's Day had me thinking about Mary, the mother of Jesus, and her womb that cradled God.  Like most evangelical protestants, I'm not always comfortable with Mary, unless someone think I venerate or pray to her.  I can  place her at the manger but not always at the cross.  There have been many grieving parents in the news and there are many more of whom I'll never know as they sorrow behind closed doors.  But God knows.  He too lost a child.  God understood the sacrifice but I wonder if Mary truly did, as she was a very human mother, and we humans struggle to comprehend the Eternal.  So as the news continues to play out over children lost to us but not to God, I consider Mary.  

Even Jesus Had a Mom

Luke 1:46-55

English Standard Version (ESV)

Mary's Song of Praise: The Magnificat

46 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

    and holy is his name.

50 And 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 mighty from their thrones

    and exalted those of humble estate;

53 he has filled the hungry with good things,

    and the rich he has sent away empty.

54 He has helped his servant Israel,

    in remembrance of his mercy,

55 as he spoke to our fathers,

    to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

I could be labeled a fundamental, evangelical Christian, a bit shy of liturgy and incense, or any other church thing that might threaten my belief in salvation through grace alone, Jesus being my saving grace.  I like bringing out Mary for Christmas and Easter, because she was there for her Son's birth and death, but   I give little thought to her the rest of the year.  I'm being convicted to remember her this Mother's Day because no mother wants to be neglected on that day, and neither would Mary.  I suspect even Jesus would have been in the card store searching for the right card for His mom if such things existed during His time on earth.  I think that in loving her He would have also honored her.  

It couldn't have been easy being Mary but she was blessed indeed. 

"Sing Like Mary Sang" - Ryan Delmore