Today's Marists 2024 Volume 8, Issue 2

concerns to Jesus without coercing him.
She is honest, authentic, real and caring
for the concerns of both the other family
members and for Jesus. She seeks the way of
reconciliation. How challenging that must
have been!
Her life of reconciliation stands out when
I look at the Crucifixion and Resurrection.
In those hours, days and weeks, she puts
into practice every skill learned through her
life. I wonder how often she felt tempted
to upbraid the Apostles, but instead
encourages them to grow as disciples,
develop their faith muscles and practice
ever deeper trust in the Holy Spirit, no
matter what their eyes told them. Peter
denied and abandoned Jesus (Lk. 22:54-
62), an incredibly difficult thing for a
mother’s heart. Yet Mary opens herself
in reconciliation. She supports Peter and
stands with the Apostles, praying with them,
affirming them while awaiting Pentecost.
She then journeys in patience within the
infant church and in our own time is still
calling us to respond more fully to grace to
live reconciliation as a way of life.
The signs of the times are disturbing, but
Mary’s realism and Spirit-filled compassion
gives us a way to respond. Reflecting on the
fears and motivations in my own heart and
in humanity helps me pray that the Holy
Spirit heals those wounds. My Marist call
prompts me to deep listening to the Spirit,
to Mary, to myself and to the other in each
circumstance. Holding those three great
”No’s” in mind I try to reflect, pray and act,
then do it all again tomorrow. I try to do the
next most obvious thing within my sphere
of influence, yet every day I face the truth
that I cannot do that on my own. The spirit
of Mary draws me deeper into God’s mercy.
Am I doing all I can, I do not know, but even
in that I try to be open to God and trust, day
by day as Mary, that my little drop of water
matters to God alone.
And in imitation of Mary, the Mother
of Jesus, “we want to be a Church that
serves, that leaves home and goes forth
from its places of worship, goes forth from
its sacristies, in order to accompany life,
to sustain hope, to be the sign of unity…
to build bridges, to break down walls,
to sow seeds of reconciliation.” (Fratelli
Tutti, 276)
What Would
Mary Do?
by Jack Ridout, Today’s Marists Editorial Board Member
The Church and her people have been
looking to Mary as an integral part of
the history of salvation and especially
in her role as the mother of Jesus.
Her fiat to Gabriel set in motion her
relationship with God and ultimately
with each one of us. There can be no
denying her position as mother to
the infant Jesus, his adolescence and
his upbringing within the holiest of
families.
Among the many titles given to Mary,
she has been called: Theotokas, Co-
Redemptrix,
Our Blessed Mother, Queen of Angels,
Mother of Good Counsel, Our Lady of
Perpetual Help, Gate of Heaven, Ark
of the Covenant. These reflect how the
faithful over the centuries feel about
her and her role as the mother of the
Messiah.
These are lofty names and reflect her
closeness to God’s divine plan for us,
but she is also Our Mother and as she
influenced Jesus in his formative years,
she continues to be an influence in our
own lives. How can this be? How does
she affect our own daily life?
Marist seminarians at the International
Theologate (Rome, Italy) involved in pastoral
care with refugees
While driving with several Marists years ago, I was cut off by another vehicle
and vented my displeasure to the other driver. A passenger in the car said aloud,
“What would Mary have done just now?”, and that phrase has stayed with me
ever since.
What would Mary have done? I doubt if she would have engaged in road rage or
letting loose with a few expletives! As Mary influenced Jesus during his formative
years, so can she influence us in our times of need or stress. I believe she would
meet anger with patience, rage with peace and hatred with kindness as she did
with the young Jesus.
Is this simplistic pie in the sky thinking? Could be…. but faced with the divisions
within our society today, we are not given many solutions to hatred, anger or
road rage. Could we face these issues with what Mary might do?
Mary’s help is perpetual, her counsel is good and she is our mother. When called
upon Mary can lead us to make the right decision, let that road rage pass, help
that person less fortunate and most of all lead us to her son, Jesus Christ.
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