Mary, Model of Discipleship
Jn 14: 21-26
Mary has a very special place in the Church because, in addition to being the Mother of Jesus Christ, and therefore Mother of God, Mary is also his disciple, like us. We look to her as the perfect follower of Jesus, and the perfect model of discipleship. In fact, the Church calls Mary the ‘exemplary realisation’ of the Church. In her, we see the Church, immaculate, fruitful, and fully united to the will of God.
The Gospel echoes this unique role of Mary. Jesus tells us that anyone who keeps his commandments and loves him, will be loved by his Father; and Jesus will love him, and reveal himself to him. And he and his Father will come and make their home with him.
Well, by grace, Mary loved God, and kept his commandments. And the Father loved her, by sending the Holy Spirit, and Jesus loved her and revealed himself to her. And Jesus came to her and made his home with her, in a very unique way. He literally grew up in her home, under her authority. So, these words of Jesus during the Last Discourse were foreshadowed, in a unique way, in Mary, because Jesus is speaking to his disciples, and she is the perfect disciple.
So, how is Mary a model for us? We can’t physically bear Jesus into the world like her. How do we imitate her?
Well, of course, we don’t imitate her physical bearing of Jesus. Rather, we imitate her in her discipleship. We imitate her by bringing Jesus into the world in another way. St Augustine said something very insightful, and somewhat surprising, about Mary. He said that she is more blessed in receiving faith in Jesus, than in conceiving the flesh of Jesus. This in no way diminishes her unique role as mother of Jesus Christ, and therefore Mother of God; but it does highlight the incredible gift that is grace and discipleship. To imitate Mary, we don’t have to bear Jesus in the flesh; rather, we imitate her in her faith, her obedience, and her love. This will bear fruit in our lives and the lives of others, and Jesus will be born spiritually, in our lives. We can do this because we share with Mary the same grace, the same faith, and the same gift of her son, Jesus.
So, let us ask for Mary’s intercession under all her titles that we may
conceive her son in our hearts, as she did in the flesh. We especially ask her
intercession as the Queen of Preachers, that, through our preaching, many
others may come to do the same.
Fr Matthew Boland O.P. , Friar of the Dominican Province of the Assumption.
