“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 

The Virgin Mary was chosen by God to be the Mother of Our Saviour Jesus Christ and to be an example to us of a total surrender to the Will of God irrespective of the price.

In her example we see total trust in God, an unwavering faith and steadfast commitment to His Holy Will.

Let us reflect on the life of this Blessed Woman, God’s Perfect Disciple and be inspired by her courage and devotion to God. She  will endure the greatest suffering as she sees Her Son, Our Redeemer Jesus Christ, crucified for the sins of humanity.

God reveals the Virgin Mary in the Bible long before she is born in 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” or “the Son 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 God sends the Angel Gabriel to tell her of His plan of salvation

“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

“Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.”  Luke 1:29

“Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.  You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”  Luke 1: 30-33

With perfect trust and total 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

Let us strive to be like the Holy Virgin Mary honouring God with every moment of our life.

Mary praises and gives thanks to God and so too must we be mindful of God’s providence.

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 charitable and courageous

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 this time the Virgin Mary was expecting Jesus.  She could have been afraid to venture off to see her cousin fearing that she might be stoned for being pregnant and unmarried, but instead she goes to her trusting in God’s protection.

Mary intercedes and prays for those in need

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.

As we pray the prayer “Hail Mary” and the “Holy Rosary” we pray for the Virgin Mary to intercede for us and pray for us from heaven.

Mary treasures God’s Words and contemplates His Will in her heart and so too must we strive to understand and do God’s will for that is how we honour God.

“Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”  Luke 2:19

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

Can there be any greater pain for the Virgin Mary than seeing Her 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 call you blessed.  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.

Pray for us, Most Gentle Mother, that we may give Jesus the trust He so desires.

Pray for us, Sweet Virgin Mary that we may be witnesses of God’s love, mercy and justice in our world.

In Jesus Christ’s name we pray that you will continue to pray for us from heaven that we too may 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!

Let us honour Our Lord Jesus by remembering His sacrifice every day.

At 3pm, (in any time zone you choose) remember the Lord dying for our salvation.

Let us thank Jesus for dying for us and let us ask Him to send forth His Holy Spirit to save souls, to stop evil and violence, to bring new healing and new beginnings so that we may honour God with great strength, great zeal and the great love.