It’s amazing how sometimes a chance remark or a word spoken in jest can
lead one to think something anew or with a fresh point of view.
Father
Ignatius was helping with the dismantling of the Nativity scene in
church and putting away the various statues safely for use the following
Christmas. One of the helpers lifted the statue of the Virgin Mary and
remarked: “Look at her face. She looks sad. It’s as if she knew what was
to happen to Jesus when He grew up.”
“She’s probably tired after giving birth,” replied another helper.
“No … she looks sad, not tired. Do you think she knew that Jesus would be crucified Father?”
Father Ignatius sat down on a nearby chair.
“I think we need a rest, at least I know I do …” he said.
The other helpers stopped for a while.
“It’s
a good question you ask …” continued the priest, “many people have
argued about the Virgin Mary over the years, and no doubt will continue
to do so. Not everyone holds her in such high regards as we do. Some see
her as a woman who gave birth to the Son of God, and just that.
“Many doubt her various Apparitions throughout the world.
“As for how much she knew … well that’s another matter.”
“What do you mean Father?”
The
priest finished cleaning his glasses and put them on again. It was a
trick he had perfected when he wanted some thinking time.
“Let’s
consider Mary when the Angel Gabriel announced what is to happen. Did
the Angel just tell her about the Birth of Jesus, or did he, or the Holy
Spirit perhaps, also tell her of what is to happen after that?
“Was
she told that Jesus would grow up to perform many miracles? That His
Mission on earth was to redeem us from our sins? That He would be
arrested, beaten, tortured, have a crown of thorns put on His head, made
to carry His own Cross and then nailed cruelly to it until He died in
agony?”
“I’m not sure … the Bible doesn’t say much about this,” said one of his listeners.
“No,
the Bible doesn’t …” continued the priest, “it does not record
everything. For example, we have a gap in Christ’s life from the age of
twelve when He was found in the temple by His parents to the age of
thirty or so when He started His Mission on earth.
“The Gospels in particular focus mainly on Christ, as they should, and don’t mention Mary or Joseph very much.”
“Well what do you think Father?” he was asked again.
“What I think is only a personal point of view.
“I doubt that God would have asked her to become the Mother of Jesus without telling her what this entailed.
“I
believe the Holy Spirit would have told her what is to happen. We don’t
know in how much details … we can only guess at that. And throughout
her life, from the moment the Angel Gabriel visited her, she had
snippets of confirmation of what is to happen.
“When she visited
Elizabeth … we learn that Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and
confirmed ‘you are the most blessed amongst women, and blessed is the
child you will bear!’
“When she presented the baby Jesus in the temple, Simeon warned her ‘and sorrow, like a sharp sword, will break your own heart.’
“And
when at the age of twelve His parents found Jesus in the temple He said
‘Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?’ And Mary treasured
all these things in her heart.
“Yes … I believe she knew quite a lot what was to happen to Jesus.”
“Wow … no wonder she looks so sad …” exclaimed one of the helpers.
“This leads us to consider something else,” added the priest.
“Imagine
you knew every detail that is to happen in your life. Every illness,
sad moment and unhappiness that is to happen. And you could not change
it. You had to go through it. How would you feel? Would you be able to
cope with the fear and agony of knowing what is to happen to you?
“We don’t know how much Mary knew of her future and that of Jesus.
“But
Jesus certainly knew what would happen to Him. Every detail from the
moment of His arrest to His death. Peter’s denial, Judas’ betrayal, His
disciples fleeing in fear. The agony of His torture and Crucifixion.
“Can
you imagine how He must have felt as He grew up, as a teenager and
young man, knowing that this day was still to come? The horror of it
must have been unbearable.
“Yet He went through with it … just for us!”
They were all silent for a few moments as they considered the seriousness of what they’d just heard.
EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK GOD'S SHEPHERD
Dearest Victor,
ReplyDeleteThat was a very wise and good observation about Mary and it provoked a good discussion.
Love the way you describe that Father Ignatius needed more thinking time...
Hugs,
Mariette
So glad you enjoyed this Father Ignatius story, Mariette. He is a character based on a number of priests I have known over the years.
DeleteGod bless.
��
DeleteStupid Blogger... the 2 hearts turn into question marks?!
ReplyDeleteIt makes us smiles when computers have a brain of their own!
DeleteGod bless you.
...it's best that some details of life are unknown.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Tom.
DeleteGod bless.
Powerful! And so timely, too, as nativity characters are being carefully wrapped and closeted. How fortunate for us, their stories don't sleep but continue to provoke conversations throughout the year.
ReplyDeleteThat's true, Mevely. Their story is real, and should be the subject on conversation, and our way of living, throughout life.
DeleteGod bless always.
All questions can't be answered but it gives us something to think about.
ReplyDeleteYes that is so, Bill.
DeleteGod bless you and yours.
I so enjoyed rereading this story, Victor. Father Ignatius never fails to brighten my day!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
You are so kind, Martha. A re-cycled story so relevant at this time of year.
DeleteGod bless you and your family.
Yes. I believe Mary knew what destiny held for her son Jesus. The sadness she must have held within knowing her son's destiny.
ReplyDeleteI have son's and daughters and to know that death awaited them and when...I couldn't ever be as brave as Mary.
God's Blessings Victor ✝
Sadly, Jan, the Bible misses out a lot of the "human" elements of this story. It focuses on the announcement of the birth of Jesus, the actual birth and the escape to Egypt. Which is right. However, I believe both Mary and Joseph must have been told in some details the mission they were asked to undertake. Both took great decisions in accepting to be Jesus' parents on earth. God would not have asked them to do this without more information.
DeleteCompare this to Moses going to Egypt. He must have had some details from God as to what is to happen there if the Pharaoh ignored his plea to release the Jews.
God bless, Jan.
I believe there must have been a sense of destiny, and thoughts of what was to come, but knowing in detail would actually diminish the power of everyone's actions. God may have a plan, but he leaves the details to us, to act on his way or wander...free will even to his own son is required to give life meaning.
ReplyDeleteWe obviously do not know either way, JoeH, as to how much or how little Mary and Joseph knew of Jesus' destiny. See my response to Jan above. Mary did get hints along the way - e.g. Simeon's prediction at the temple.
DeleteJesus certainly knew in details of His destiny. Remember, Jesus did not just start to exist when He was born on earth. He has always existed as a Spirit in Heaven with God and the Holy Spirit. His birth on earth was the start of His existence as a human being. So, as a human child, growing up, He knew in details what is to happen. He was/is a human person on earth and a Spiritual Being who has always existed.
Difficult to understand perhaps; hence the mystery of the Trinity.
God bless.
We don't always know and we don't always need to understand.
ReplyDeleteAmen, Brian. God did not ask us to understand Him. Only to trust Him.
DeleteGod bless.
Someday all our questions will be answered.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't want to know all the details of my life. I think it would take away from the joy of every day.
Good thoughts and attitude, Happyone.
DeleteGod bless you.
Oh, I missed your New Year's post. Well, Happy New Years to all!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to you and your family, Manny.
DeleteGod bless always.
Yes, "For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, despising the shame." Heb. 12:2. The closer it got to the time, the more His Father shared with Him, i believe, of what was to come, and yes, He went through it anyway. He was sure of the final outcome, of saving us. It is astounding to think about.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed astounding when we consider what Christ endured and suffered for us. Thank you Jesus.
DeleteGod bless, Mimi.
"A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief".
ReplyDeleteGod bless, David.
Delete