Mary and Mercy

As we celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday, we recall some significant moments in the life of Mary, the Virgin from Nazareth. She, who is prophesied in Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”

She, who is said to be the perfect disciple of Jesus, the one whom Jesus acclaims, after a woman from the crowd where he was speaking exclaimed: “Blessed is the woman who bore you and nursed you,” “Truly blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it as well.” The Blessed Virgin Mary indeed is not only a listener of the word but a doer as well. Her “fiat” at the Annunciation gave flesh to God’s plan of redemption, the word of God, Jesus Christ.

She, who was there from the beginning of Jesus’ life on earth, marveled and adored him at his birth in a lowly manger whom St. Paul says that “Though he was in the form of God did not deem equality with God something to be grasped at. Rather, he emptied himself and took the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men (Phil 2:6-7).”

She, who felt sorrow at His loss after their visit in Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover and joy at finding him at the Temple, and who, at his response when questioned why he did it to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”, kept and pondered all these in her heart.

She, who interceded for the wedding couple at Cana to her Son Jesus, “They have no wine” (Jn 2:3) and whom he respectfully and affectionately addressed “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come” (Jn 2:4). She, who then proceeded, with full confidence, to give instructions to the waiters, “Do whatever he tells you.”

She, who stood at the foot of the Cross where her Son was nailed, beholding the sight of her dying Son. She, a mother, who remained at her Son’s side enduring His sufferings as if these were her own, and who now must have realized the full impact of Simeon’s prophecy to her: “This child is destined to be the downfall and the rise of many in Israel, a sign that will be opposed… and you yourself shall be pierced with a sword so that the thoughts of many hearts may be laid bare (Lk 2:34-35).” She stood there, a witness of His merciful love as he prayed for his persecutors, “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing (Lk 22:34).”

Like mother, like Son. The example of obedience of the mother at the Anunciation was echoed by the Son at the garden in Gethsemane, “Father, not my will but yours be done.” For Jesus is naturally son of his mother as to his humanity (CCC 503).

“Mary’s virginity manifests God’s absolute initiative in the Incarnation. Jesus has only God as Father. “He was never estranged from the Father because of the human nature which he assumed… He is naturally Son of the Father as to his divinity and naturally son of his mother as to his humanity, but properly Son of the Father in both natures” (CCC 503).

Mary is a witness of God’s merciful love for his creature from the birth, death and Resurrection of Jesus, her Son. As St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas have said that in God’s relationship with His creatures, mercy is his greatest attribute. St. John Paul II reiterates this in Rich in Mercy (14) as well as the opening of the Holy Door in the Jubilee of Mercy declared by Pope Francis. Mary experienced God’s mercy at her Immaculate Conception: “The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin (CCC 491).

Mary is the first recipient of God’s Mercy. She whom God has chosen to become the bearer of God’s Mercy, His Son. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life (Jn 3:16).”

Mary, indeed, is the one who submitted most perfectly to His holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself. She has received graces from Her Son, the Fount of Mercy and so we have recourse to her every time we seek refuge in her maternal love as our intercessor to her Son. She, Mary, is our Mother of Mercy.

Hail Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy!