“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12 

Let’s look at the Holy Scriptures to reflect on the great privilege, singular grace, and holiness of the Mother of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, True God and True Man.

God prophesies about a woman who will oppose Satan

The Virgin Mary is spoken of in the very first book of the Bible, the Book of Genesis.

After the original sin of Adam and Eve, God speaks to Satan about how God will destroy evil.  God says to Satan:  “And I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel” (Genesis 3:15)

To understand this prophecy we need to understand that the woman in this passage is the Virgin Mary and the word “seed” refers to her “offspring” or “children”.  Jesus is “the seed of the woman”, that pays the price of our sins, crushing the evil of Satan. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23) “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men” (1 Timothy 2:5)   Mediators resolve disputes and reconcile differences and it is the great sacrifice of Jesus that makes reparation to Divine Justice opening the gates of heaven to us.

To further understand this prophecy we need to understand that “enmity” is a force of opposition.  The only way the woman can oppose the evil of Satan is with the holiness and love of God.  The “enmity” between the woman, Mary and Satan is a result of Mary’s perfect obedience to God.  If she were not faithful there would be no enmity.  So already, before the Virgin Mary is born God prophesies about the woman who will be His faithful servant assisting Him in His plan of salvation.

The Virgin Mary is chosen by God and is highly favoured and this is how the Angel Gabriel greets her

“And the angel came to her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”  Luke 1:28

With perfect trust and confidence in God the Virgin Mary accepts her mission to serve God, becoming Mother of Our Redeemer Jesus

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”  Luke 1:38

Mary praises and gives thanks to God

And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.”  Luke 1: 46-49

Mary is kind and compassionate responding to the needs of others

Upon hearing of her cousin Elizabeth’s pregnancy she immediately heads off to assist her. “Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.”  Luke 1:56

At the wedding of Cana she intercedes for the bridal couple that have run out of wine telling Jesus of their need.  She instructs the servants to  “Do whatever he tells you.”  John 2:5 and Jesus performs His first public miracle turning water into wine.

Mary endures the greatest suffering witnessing the murder of her Son Jesus

Can their be any greater pain than seeing your son tortured and crucified?

“Come, all you who pass by along the road, look and see whether there is any pain like my pain.” (Lamentations 1:12) The Virgin Mary meets Jesus on the Way to Calvary “His appearance was so marred beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the sons of men—so shall he startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him.” (Isaiah 52: 14-15) Mary understood the reason for this great divine sacrifice, yet our Heavenly Mother’s heart breaks at the sight of Her Son, True God, True Man.

Jesus honours His mother while dying on the Cross speaking to her and to us in His final moments

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!”  Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.  John 19: 26-27

Death by crucifixion is a brutal, agonizing death.  Hanging on the Cross dying, Jesus would have been struggling to breathe, enduring the most terrible pain.  So these words “Behold your mother!” have great meaning.  Jesus is giving the apostles a spiritual mother who will assist them in their mission to evangelize and spread the Gospel message of love and forgiveness.

Let us pray…

Holy Mother of God you were chosen to give birth to Our Saviour Jesus Christ. Exalted above all women, God filled you with His grace and now all generations acknowledge your blessedness.  You endured the greatest suffering, giving up your Son Jesus so that we could be redeemed by His Sacred Blood.  Always faithful, always trusting in God, Jesus honoured you in His final dying moments giving you to His disciples as Spiritual Mother.  Help us most gentle Mother to give Jesus the trust He so desires.  Help us to surrender to His holy will and be witnesses of His love, mercy and justice.  Help us to forgive one another.   In Jesus Christ’s name we pray that you will continue to intercede for us and help us to love Jesus Our Lord so that we too can one day receive the crown of life that God gives to all who love Him!  We love you Holy Mother of God!  You are Our Spiritual Mother and Queen of Heaven and Earth!  We love You Holy Jesus, Our Lord and Our God!

Please keep stopping and praying at 3pm (in your local time or another time zone) to remember the great sacrifice of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  Pray at this time for the redemption of all souls and for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit of God.