Compassionate Nudge
In many parts of the world, Jesus' mom gets almost as much reverence as he does.
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward." So they took it. When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now." Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there a few days. - John 2:1-12
Today is the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, a day commemorating the assumption into heaven of Mary's body upon her death.
In Austria and Germany, people decorate their homes with wreaths of herbs and flowers because they believe Mary's tomb was opened and in place of her body were herbs and flowers.
While there have been feast days for Mary going back to the early church, it wasn't until 1950 that this particular feast day was established.
Though Mary, the mother of Jesus, is present throughout his life as reported in the Gospels, there are only a few times that we hear her speak, and only twice to her son directly, in the Gospel of Luke when he is found in the temple, and in this passage.
In Luke, Mary is disappointed with her son for disappearing on them.
His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
And here, years later, John tells us that she nudged him to help before he was ready to reveal himself as divine.
What Mary signifies for me is compassion.
She wants her son to learn to care about others, and if she can teach that to God's living presence on earth, it is clear the message is for all of us as well.
This is the woman who accepted God's call to bear a child out of wedlock, an act that made her a target in the eyes of the righteous of her day.
Her acceptance of this blessing and burden made her tough. What else can the world throw at me?
So, she pushes Jesus to do what is right, even if it isn't convenient for him to do so.
Maybe, on this day, we should take stock of our own lives and see if there are things we are reluctant to do, even though we know they are the rights things.
A little nudge from Mary might just make our day.
More to come...