The Initial Introduction

Seeing Mary’s irreplaceable role in salvation history

09/12/2024

Luke 1:39-47 Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled." And Mary said: "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior."

Roman Catholics have an intense love for Mary, but sadly not all Christians share that same affection. Have you seen that bumper sticker that says: “Can’t find Jesus? Look for his Mother”? There was a brief discussion about that bumper sticker on a website called “The Christian Forum.” One person commented: “I saw this bumper sticker today and about ran off the road” followed by a sad face imogee.

Another person remarked more rudely: “I guess it is a Catholic thing referring to Mary. But she is dead, and Jesus is alive. Therefore, it does not make sense to me.” A third person added: “That’s sad that people feel the need to search for the mother of Jesus rather than Jesus himself." Now, I must admit I was shocked at those comments because that bumper sticker makes perfect sense to me, even if it baffles our Protestant brothers and sisters.

Someone else who would have loved that bumper sticker is Elizabeth in the gospel today. Why? Well, because Elizabeth cannot see Jesus, but she can see and hear Mary who brings Jesus to her home. So when Mary fulfills the Second Joyful Mystery today, the Visitation, Elizabeth declares: “For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.” In other words, Jesus is always brought to us through other people, or through the Bible, or through the sacraments, or through a miracle, or through the saints, etc.

We have not yet personally and physically met Jesus but we hope to one day in heaven. On earth, however, we always find Jesus through others – when the sound of their greeting reaches our ears – and there is no one better than his Mother to teach us about her Son. If they are honest enough, even the people commenting on that Christian Forum initially had someone else introduce them to Jesus: a parent, a pastor, a teacher, a coach, etc.

Today is the feast day of the Most Holy Name of Mary. And we honor the fact that Mary was the first person to introduce Jesus to the world. Heck, she even introduced Jesus to St. John the Baptist while John was still in his mother’s womb. John first knew Jesus through Mary. And then, of course, John would introduce Jesus to the Jewish world. And the apostles, in their turn, would let the rest of the world know who Jesus is.

But, you see, Mary was the closest co-worker to Christ making him know to others, and therefore, she enjoyed singular graces like being immaculately conceived. Indeed, if Mary had not said, “Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum” (be it done to me according to your word), no one in the world would have known or met Jesus. And that is why we Catholic honor Mother Mary, because the salvation of the world hangs on her humble response to the angel. Her reply was only possible, of course, thanks to the grace of her Son already operative in her being.

When I was in seminary, they taught us how to celebrate Mass. We were to follow the “rubrics” (literally the red letter words) which indicate when the priest should stand, sit, genuflect, bow, prostrate, etc. But I will never forget that when certain names are uttered in the liturgy, we should slightly bow our heads. Have you noticed some priests doing that? Those are the really good priests – just kidding.

The rubrics tell us to bow our heads when the name of Jesus, or Mary, or the saint of the day is mentioned at Mass. Why? Well, because names are holy and should be revered, especially the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesu Christ, his Blessed Mother, Mary, and the saints who imitated Jesus admirably.

Yes, we have to know, love, and serve Jesus, and him alone. But there are countless people, books, podcasts, sacraments, the Bible, and maybe even this homily, that have all brought Jesus to us. We never would have known him without their introduction, especially that initial introduction when Mary brought him to the world. “Can’t find Jesus? Look for his Mother.”

Praised be Jesus Christ!