The Virgin Mary and African women’s lives-Session 9
Each session holds my attention, and I am struck with the depth of knowledge presented to us. There will be certain Monday sessions I will not be able to attend during the summer months, but I take the time to listen to the recordings and refer to the recommended readings. The discussion question for Session 9 was “What does Mary mean to me”? I will share a few of my very personal thoughts.
Mary was a Jewess and always remained a Jewess. She was faithful to her Jewish family and studied Torah and fulfilled the Laws of Moses, according to her female status. The images of her as a gaudy queen of heaven have never tugged on my heart and soul. The beautiful African Icons, which we experienced this session, did move my soul. The visions of Mary by children are beautiful and yet I hold them within the context of the time and culture in which she appeared. Everyone who has gone before us is with Mary and her son, the Cosmic Christ.
The Wedding at Cana is a very symbolic story. Jesus turning water into wine has many stumbling blocks when you talk about Kosher foods and wine versus non-Kosher foods and wine. But for now, let us leave the Kosher rules alone. Mary’s words to the servers have touched my soul many times. She told the servers, “Do whatever he tells you”. I hear Mary telling me, in that same command, “Elizabeth, do whatever he tells you”. I have never needed a “mother”, other than my own mom, however, Mary is a great gal who is always available when we need to talk. Mary, alongside her son, is a free, fully human being! We too will be like them someday and will wonder why we spent so much time on the word “Virgin”.
Truly my last thought: The Son of Man film is beyond words but not beyond tears. It does not “bully” the viewer. As the credits tell us after the movie, it’s the story of Jesus as a modern-day story of Africa. There are portions of the film which caused truth to be heard via violent scenes. Every moment of the story was filled with imagination and creative license to bring forth today’s Africa.
Mary, admirer of her Son’s wisdom, pray for us.