The most direct explanation for why Mary matters is because she mattered to Jesus. I actually feel sorry for protestants and evangelicals (many of whom are close friends of mine) because they miss out on a relationship with Mary. I've gotten into lively debates from time to time when they claim that all Catholics "worship" Mary. I will explain why that belief is mistaken in a moment.
First, Mary mattered to Jesus because she was his mother. As we know, Jesus was fully human and fully divine. The combination of humanity and divinity was not something he expected us to understand, but there is no doubt across the Christian spectrum that he was fully human and fully divine. He obviously loved Mary with his divinity, as God loves all of his creation. But Jesus clearly loved Mary with his humanity was well. And, as she was his mother, he was a dutiful and obedient son.
His obedience is demonstrated at the Wedding at Cana. "When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine.' [And] Jesus said to her, 'Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come.' His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.”
John 2:3-5 (NABRE). Jesus then turned jugs of water into wine, in what is regarded as his first miracle. So here is Jesus informing his mother that "My hour has not yet come" and yet he obeys his mother's request to help. This fact can not be marginalized or dismissed, the God of the Universe tells Mary he is not ready, but she insists
and he obeys.
In his final moments before his death on the cross, Jesus again showed his care and concern for his mother. "Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved 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 into his home"
John 19:25-27 (NABRE). Jesus spoke just two more times before he died ("I thirst" and "It is finished"). So, of the final four utterances of our Lord, two of them spoke of concern for his mother, ensured that she would be cared for after his death by instructing the Apostle John to care for her. In many ways, he told us all "Behold, your mother."
So why is it that Mary is ignored by a large number of Christians? I have heard some Christian commentators argue that "if Mary hadn't said yes to God's request, someone else would have." Or others that have speculated that Mary wasn't the first one he asked, she was just the first one that said yes. (absolutely no basis in scripture for this premise). I find that marginalization of Mary unwarranted, and mean-spirited.
Imagine a day in your life when you were being honored or celebrated. Maybe it was your graduation, wedding, or an award ceremony. As the people come in to congratulate you, they are all singing your praises and making you feel so important and special. You notice your mother there, smiling proudly at you, but people are ignoring her. You introduce your mother to people and they give her a passing acknowledgment and return their focus on you. You try to acknowledge your mother's importance in your life, and people respond that you would have turned out just as great no matter who your mother was. Honestly, how would you feel? Picture the look on your mother's face as she is ignored and dismissed. You would be furious. You see where I'm going with this? How do you think Jesus feels when people marginalize, ignore, and even show contempt for his mother? I would not want to face Jesus asking me why I failed to respect his mother.
Protestants often malign Catholics for "worshiping" Mary, when they do not understand the Catholic
devotion to Mary. Treatises have been written on this subject, by much smarter people than me, and so the answers are out there for everyone (I would recommend the
Catholic Answers forum) Let me at least give you my first "line of defense" when challenged on this subject. I simply ask the person to take a critical look at the Hail Mary prayer. You will see nothing about worship. "Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with you" (a common greeting from that era); "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus." (the actual statement of Elizabeth upon seeing the pregnant Mary, with Jesus's name added later). "Holy Mary, Mother of God" (simply a truism) "Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, Amen" (a request for her prayers, not worship.) Nothing in the Hail Mary elevates her above God or even puts her on the same level.
The next argument I typically hear is that there is no need to ask Mary for her prayers because we can take those prayers straight to Jesus. Well, for the people who believe that, they should completely cease asking anyone else to pray for them ever, because they can just take their concerns straight to Jesus. The reality is that I have never met a Christian who doesn't ask his/her fellow believers to pray for them. We Christians all fundamentally believe in the power of intercessory prayer (whether some denominations acknowledge it or not). So, why not ask the Mother of God to intercede for us? We know from the Wedding at Cana that he listens to her.
Think of the profound grace and wisdom demonstrated by teenage Mary, with the prospect of becoming pregnant while betrothed to Joseph (knowing that under Hebrew law she could face divorce or even stoning as a result). And with the words, "let it be done to me according to his Will", the Word became flesh and salvation became a possibility for all of us. To discount her role in our salvation betrays the value that Christ himself placed upon his mother. We can all take great comfort that our mother Mary said "yes." When we are faced with a difficult choice, her "yes" can be an inspiration to us. Perhaps some of the most eloquent words come from an unlikely source in Paul McCartney. "When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, speaking words of wisdom, let it be."
Mary mattered to Jesus, so Mary matters to me, and I pray that she matters to you.
Jeff Palzer
September 16, 2011
