Why is Mary special? A reflection

In the garden of Gethsemene there stand several ancient olive trees. The age of these is not known, but it is reckoned that they are at least 800 years old. They come from a single parent stock, possibly a tree that was standing in the garden at the time of Christ’s agony in the garden. Root material that has been dated has been found to be over 2000 years old.

So these trees have a rather tenuous, physical, point of contact with the Lord of all, the Creator, Redeemer, Saviour, Our God.

When I heard about these trees I wept, and I think any Christian would be touched at the thought of them in some sense ‘witnessing’ to Christ. .

These are just trees.

Mary welcomed the Incarnate Word into her heart and into her body. She bore Him beneath her heart for nine months. She guided His baby steps, and taught the Word of God to speak. She fed and clothed Him, watched Him grow to manhood, accompanied Him on the way as He preached, followed Him to Calvary. Catholics believe that the body of the virgin is in heaven even now, a forerunner of us all in tasting of the good things promised by God to those who love Him. Surely we should love her with more devotion than those trees, our eyes should fill with tears when contemplating her, our hearts should be filled with joy at the hope she represents?

#litrgicalyearmary #prayer