MOTHERS

“The man replied, ‘The woman whom You put here with me — she gave me fruit from the tree, so I ate it.'” –Genesis 3:12

Most of us are very familiar with the story of the fall. Adam and Eve succumbed to temptation and thwarted God’s plan. Because our first parents were disobedient, we suffer the wounds of original sin. Shortsightedly, we could label Adam and Eve the ultimate scapegoats. But we and they are family! “The man called his wife Eve, because she became the mother of all the living” (Gn 3:20). Have you pondered your lineage? Eve gave birth to us in the natural order — she is truly our ancestor. The trickery of the serpent, although frustrating, merely exposes human frailty. Are we any better than Eve? Jesus reminds us, “Let the man among you who has no sin be the first to cast a stone at her” (Jn 8:7).

Providentially, God the Father instituted a new master plan. He desired to restore us to His grace and love, for He wants all “to be saved and come to know the truth” (1 Tm 2:4). He chose a young virgin from Nazareth to help complete the plan. “The virgin’s name was Mary” (Lk 1:27). This new “woman” (see Gn 3:15) was destined to become the “new Eve.” In the spiritual order, Mary has given birth to “those who keep God’s commandments and give witness to Jesus”; we, as members of the Church, represent “the rest of her offspring” (see Rv 12:17).

Focus on Mary’s obedience, not Eve’s disobedience. Echo Mary and tell the Lord, “May it be done to me according to Your word” (see Lk 1:38, RNAB).

PRAYER: Father, give me the grace to accept Mary as my mother (Jn 19:27) and always act so as to honor her (Ex 20:12).
PROMISE: “When Jesus took the wine, He said, ‘Now it is finished.’ Then He bowed His head, and delivered over His spirit.” (Jn 19:30)
PRAISE: Mother Mary, you “gather your children, as a mother bird gathers her young under her wings” (see Mt 23:37).