She Adopts Us All

He's here. The babe in the manger. The God//Man. He has arrived to fill up our hearts, to bring the light of God to earth, to make us His people! And His amazing mother, Mary, this is her big day in the calendar of the Church. We celebrate her as the Mother of God. We celebrate her ponderings in her heart. We celebrate her journey of motherhood.

I wonder at the motherhood of a young woman who just underwent the magnificent transformation into motherhood. I wonder at how she processed all this, the shepherds, the learned Magi from Persia with their fantastical gifts. The knowing that God was the father of her child and that now the child was here. All had come to pass as the angel told her. She conceived. She bore a son. His name was Jesus.

Mary's pregnancy and birth changed the fate of humanity. Suddenly the floodgates of Heaven could open and we all could be adopted as God's children. Along with Christ, we could call out to God as our Father. With this, we have a mother too!

She knew some//all of this during her pregnancy {can't wait to have this discussion in Heaven!}. Even so, as she lay resting in the straw in that barn with the cattle lowing and the sheep nuzzling, all her discomforts of pregnancy, all her heart's longings and fierce fears were embodied in her vulnerable baby actually being born. Now the journey starts for her. Now motherhood of all of us begins. Now she shoulders the mantle of adopting this whole human race.

Only a remarkable woman open to intense grace could do this. Even on my third go 'round as a mother, I am piercedly humbled by the thought of what she did for us all. I seek her out in my heart, my heavenly mother, and ask for her blessing and help, calling out to her in the Memorare Prayer:

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me.

Amen.

photo credit

Nell O'Leary is an attorney turned stay-at-home mom to three lovelies. She and her husband live in the great city of Saint Paul. You can find out more about her here.