We are Mary

Were someone to ask me to define the term “Christian” in 140 characters or fewer, I would require only four: Mary.

The life of Mary is the life of a Christian. And, if one is a true follower of Christ who is baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and who receives our Lord and Savior in the celebration of the Eucharist, then that Christian is Mary.

Confused? You needn’t be. Just open your heart like Mary did, and you will understand.

Mary was conceived without the burden of original sin—which is a privilege we do not share. But, through baptism, we are relieved of that essential burden and thus made to be like Mary—i.e., suitably prepared to receive our Lord.

Mary, however, was not simply a passive recipient, a vessel in which our nascent Savior was placed. Rather, she was an active participant in the Incarnation. Through maternity, Mary formed with Jesus the closest to perfect union that two humans ever can attain: the bond between a mother and her unborn child. As his Blessed Mother, Mary gave to Jesus her very humanity; the flesh and blood that one day would save the world.

Thus, Mary holds a special place within Christianity, because only she can ever share this most intimate union with Jesus. Still, as Paul emphasized in his letter to the Ephesians, we too are united with Christ. Through his sacrifice on the cross, Jesus gives us an opportunity to approximate his intimate union with Mary. We receive him in the Eucharist just as Mary conceived him in her womb. Our “amen” in response to accepting that precious gift is Mary’s “yes” in response to hearing God’s call.

And, like Mary, when we receive the Body of Christ we also become a part of the Incarnation. By the Holy Spirit Mary gave flesh to Christ Crucified and by the Holy Spirit we give flesh to the Risen Lord. As Church we are the Body of Christ. We gather in Jesus’ name so that he might appear in the midst of us as the Head of this sacred Body. We re-member him by becoming the hands through which he does his works and the lips through which he speaks his message.

Though not numbered among Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Mary is by far the greatest evangelist: her “yes” quite literally gave birth to the Word made flesh. We cannot give life to the Gospel in the way that Mary did; but we can open our hearts to the Gospel and let it give life to us. If we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us and embody the Gospel message, then God may look upon us and recognize his Son. And Jesus, our Redeemer and author of a reborn human race might joyfully exclaim, “This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh”.