Mary has sometimes been called the first disciple. Her experience of trust in God has brought her to a focused faith in the power and mystery of her son. Mary trusts Jesus and invites us into that trust by her example. Our trust in Jesus will not be betrayed. Mary has invited us to the feast and to our part in it with her. She stands as a servant with us.
A member of our women’s Bible study said, “God chose Mary because God knew she could be trusted to give Jesus what he needed to fulfill his destiny. Perhaps she was also chosen because God knew she would not stand in Jesus’ way when it came time for him to go to his death. So, as God did with Mary before us, God is trusting us to teach our children and then let them go to do what they need to do according to God’s plans for them . . . because we also are raising God’s children.”
And what a fine mothering example we have to follow.
Today is the 16th Sunday after Pentecost. We remember John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople (407). This message was adapted from “Mary: Mother, Disciple, and Example” written by Susanne E. Smith that first appeared in the May 2006 issue of Lutheran Woman Today (now Gather) magazine.
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