Saturday 2 January 2021

What did she know?

 


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 

AMAZON LINK


 

27 comments:

  1. Dearest Victor,
    That 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

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    1. 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.

      God bless.

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  2. Stupid Blogger... the 2 hearts turn into question marks?!

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    1. It makes us smiles when computers have a brain of their own!

      God bless you.

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  3. ...it's best that some details of life are unknown.

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  4. 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.

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    1. That's true, Mevely. Their story is real, and should be the subject on conversation, and our way of living, throughout life.

      God bless always.

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  5. All questions can't be answered but it gives us something to think about.

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  6. I so enjoyed rereading this story, Victor. Father Ignatius never fails to brighten my day!
    Blessings!

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    1. You are so kind, Martha. A re-cycled story so relevant at this time of year.

      God bless you and your family.

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  7. Yes. I believe Mary knew what destiny held for her son Jesus. The sadness she must have held within knowing her son's destiny.
    I 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 ✝

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    1. 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.

      Compare 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.

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  8. 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.

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    1. We 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.

      Jesus 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.

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  9. We don't always know and we don't always need to understand.

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    1. Amen, Brian. God did not ask us to understand Him. Only to trust Him.

      God bless.

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  10. Someday all our questions will be answered.
    I wouldn't want to know all the details of my life. I think it would take away from the joy of every day.

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    1. Good thoughts and attitude, Happyone.

      God bless you.

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  11. Oh, I missed your New Year's post. Well, Happy New Years to all!

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    1. Best wishes to you and your family, Manny.

      God bless always.

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  12. 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.

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    1. It is indeed astounding when we consider what Christ endured and suffered for us. Thank you Jesus.

      God bless, Mimi.

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  13. "A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief".

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