There's something about Mary.....

We all know someone who has the name of Mary, or some variation of it.  My wife’s name is Marilyn.  My mom used the name Marie as her middle name, although her birth certificate listed her name as Marie Angela.  My sister-in-law is named Marilyn.  My son-in-law’s mother’s name is Maria.  Barack and Michelle Obama named one of their daughters Malia, another variation.  Mariah is pretty popular these days, as well.  Mary is one of the most common names in any language.  And there’s a good reason for it!

Honoring Mary’s name is a way of calling her into our presence!  And what a presence it is!  She is “full of grace” (Luke 1:28)!  And the fact that she accompanied the disciples, in person or virtually, from the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, through His Passion and Death, burial, Resurrection, and Ascension into heaven only serves to heighten our awareness of that grace in our midst.  She was “there” through all of it.

Jesus tells us that “a good person, out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good fruit.” (Luke 6:43-49)   Some of those who had been at the crucifixion came to the tomb to bury Him properly.  This was Mary’s Son, after all!  They went to the tomb to wash and clean Him, to anoint Him.  They knew that He’d been buried in a hurry.  Before sunset, there had been no time to do anything but put Him in the tomb.  He had to be taken care of.  This was Mary’s Son.   Simple acts of compassionate kindness made them do this.  They just couldn’t leave Him like that.

Mary was present in their hearts and this gave them greater initiative to do this act of respect, which they had learned from Him!  Even though they knew about the resurrection, His life had begun in them, a life that manifested itself not only in all kinds of extraordinary things but the ways their lives had changed.  The awareness of Mary’s “presence” enabled them to find new meaning and immense joy, always pointing in humility to her Son, Jesus.

So we continue to honor and proclaim the name of Mary, in everything that we undertake; in doing so, we’re furthering the salvation of the world, that is, living for others and promoting peace, forgiveness and justice from the store of goodness inspired through Mary.

Hail Mary, full of Grace!