Mary is Our Mother

When Jesus was about to die on the cross at Calvary, there stood John the Apostle and His mother, Mary, and two other women.  Jesus addressed John and Mary in John 19:26-27, by saying, "...Woman, behold your son!"  Then He said to John, "Behold your mother!"  And it is said that the Apostle, John took Mary into his home from that moment on to care for her. 

This exchange is very significant.  Jesus is making it known that Mary is the mother of John, and in essence, the mother of us all.  In turn, He tells John to consider Mary his mother.  Catholics are taught from the moment we learn our catechism, that Mary is not only the Mother of God, but our mother too.  She is the most important person in Jesus' life and He loves her beyond all understanding.  He wants us to love her that way too.

Non-Catholics have operated under a misconception that Catholics worship Mary.  That is not the case.  We honor her and the role she played in our salvation history.  Mary's consent to carry the Messiah so He could come into our world and save us is no light matter!  She was and continues to be a hero in our faith and a role-model for us all.

Her fervent desire is to bring everyone to her son.   In John 2:5, Mary attends the wedding at Cana with Jesus and the wine runs out.  She asks her son to help in the matter and He listens to His mother.  She then tells the servants, "Do whatever He tells you."  And Jesus uses that occasion to turn water into wine for the wedding feast...His first miracle!

Mary continues to go to her son on our behalf, as she did at the Cana wedding and He listens to her.  She wants us to do whatever He tells us to do.  She is our mother and a priceless treasure.  Let us appreciate and honor her, as her son does.  I love you, Mary.  Pray for me and for the world!