By Arockia Dhas Rayappan, Concordia University, Canada
The prologue of the Gospel of Luke affirms that Saint Luke the Evangelist himself was dependent upon the traditions that he received from the eyewitnesses and ministers of the Word to write the Gospel (USCCB, 2023). He chronicles Mary as a person who treasured the words of the shepherds (Luke 2.17-19), of Simeon (Luke 2.25-35), of Anna (Luke 2.36-38), and even of Jesus (Luke 2.49) and the deeds related to his life; she pondered them in her heart (Luke 2.19).
A similar act of Mary is recorded in the narration of the boy ‘Jesus Found in the Temple’ in the same chapter: “…and his mother kept all these things in her heart.” (Luke 2.51). Her treasuring was a spiritually significant event for the nascent church. It was preserved by the Second Vatican Council (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 57) as the tradition inscribed it in the Gospel. This respectful treasuring of Mary, hints at the possible tradition of the early Christian Church community to reflect on the events in the life of Jesus through Christ-centred contemplation on the salvific events that infused hope in the hearts of Christ’s followers. This act of treasuring provided the Christian community with the spiritual sustenance amidst an environment of disharmony, suffering, and persecution. Drawing insights from Mary’s spiritual act of treasuring, we are inspired to live a life today focused on Christ.
During times of spiritual distraction in our lives that include desolation, Mary comes to us as a mentor, spiritual guide, and an ideal source of help. Her treasuring draws us to solely invest our attention on Christ. Amidst moments of disappointment, self-doubt, and anxiety, we could courageously hold on to Mary’s helping hand. Saint Pope John Paul II has these reassuring words for Marian devotees: “To succeed in your intentions, entrust yourselves to the Blessed Virgin Mary always, but especially in moments of difficulty and darkness. From Mary, we learn to surrender to God’s will in things. From Mary, we learn to trust even when all hope seems gone. From Mary, we learn to love Christ, her Son, and the Son of God… Learn from her to be always faithful, to trust that God’s Word to you will be fulfilled and that nothing is impossible with God.’”
The Second Vatican Council interprets Mary as a person who devoted herself totally to the person and work of her Son, under and with Him (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 56). She freely co-operated with the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in the work of salvation (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 56). Her life is a manifestation of her union with Jesus in the work of salvation (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 57). While on earth, she advanced in her pilgrimage of faith (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 58).
In the Office of Readings for the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, Saint Athanasius writes that Mary is our sister (The Liturgy of the Hours Volume I: Advent Season and Christmas Season, p. 485).
Now, let us self-introspect our spiritual life via the interpretation of Mary according to the Second Vatican Council: How free are we to devote ourselves totally to the person of Jesus and his work as Mary did? Are we internally free to cooperate with the Holy Trinity in the work of salvation as Mary was? Do our lives manifest our union with Jesus as her life once did? How could we spiritually benefit from praying the Rosary to advance in the pilgrimage of faith? How can I become a brother/sister/friend in faith to my fellow parishioners and the members of other Christian denominations imitating Mary namely in her faith, obedience, and hope? [To be continued …]
Father Arockia D. Rayappan ([email protected]) is a priest of Delhi Archdiocese and a Ph.D. student at Concordia University, Montreal, Canada. His ministry in the states of Delhi and Haryana has been in missions of Rohtak and Dharuhera, parishes, the Formation Commission, seminary, and school. He served as the deputy secretary general and PRO of the Regional Bishops’ Council of the North from 2012-2014. His contributions have been published in The Voice of Delhi, The Vidyajyoti Journal of Theological Reflection, The Indian Currents, The New Leader, The Examiner, The Tablet-Brooklyn, USA, Golden Key Academy-Atlanta, USA, and JDV Times.