Mother of Mercy

The hardest thing for a mother or father to do is to let a child go.  It hardly matters whether this takes the form of the first day of kindergarten or a child leaving home for college.  Parents feel the separation deeply, but the letting go is ultimately the expression of their love.  Love desires that the other become his true self.  This requires parents to relinquish the narrow dreams they have for their children in exchange for a plan of infinite proportions!

Because Easter falls so early this year, we have the privilege of celebrating the beautiful Marian Feast of the Annunciation in April.  Furthermore, this day falls right after Divine Mercy Sunday.  This is fitting, for it is Mary's fiat that makes her the Mother of Mercy.  Through her "yes," Mary gives us a Savior.  She gives Him to us by making room in her own being for the plan of Another.  And she continues to make room for the Other (and others) throughout the whole of Christ's life and hers.

What does "making room" look like?  It looks like loss.  The Scriptures tell us that Mary lost Jesus in the temple, she lost Him in His public ministry, and she lost Him in death.

In his masterpiece, The Lord, Romano Guardini states, "Mary gave (God) everything: heart, honor, flesh and blood, all the wonderful strength of her love.  In the beginning she had contained it, but soon it outgrew her, mounting steadily higher and higher to the world of the divine out of her reach."

A growing gap intervened between the Lord and His Mother.  This mysterious space between them was salvific - it was for us!  For when Jesus "distanced" Himself from Mary, it was in order to allow us to follow Him.  Losing Him in the temple made room for the scribes and teachers of the law.  Losing Him in His public ministry made room for the disciples and the crowds.  Losing Him in death made room for the entire world to enter into communion with the Lord!

In the end, she gained Him back!  Guardini also tells us:  "Mary's vital depths supported the Lord throughout His life and death.  Again and again, He left her behind to feel the blade of the 'sword' - but each time, in a surge of faith, she caught up with Him and enfolded Him anew, until at last He severed the very bond of sonship, appointing her another, the man besided her under the Cross, to take His place!  On the highest, thinnest pinnacle of creation Jesus stood alone, face to face with the justice of God.  From the depths of her co-agony on Golgotha, Mary, with a final bound of faith, accepted this double separation - and once again stood beside Him!  Indeed, 'Blessed is she who has believed!'"