Mary, Mother of Jesus

John 2:1-5

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus' mother was there. Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no more wine." "Dear woman, why do you involve me?" Jesus replied, "My time has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you."

We know the rest of the story. From six stone water jars, Jesus turned water into wine. This was Jesus' first miracle, and it was done at the request of his mother.

Fast forward to the end of Jesus' personal ministry, and John 19:25-27 says, "Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother......When Jesus saw his mother there and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear Mother, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother."

With Mother's Day coming up this Sunday, May 10th, it seems appropriate to spend some time reflecting on Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. When I learn of a parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle, whose heart is breaking because his or her child, grandchild, niece or nephew is going through a very difficult time, I find myself turning to Mary. I know she understands a heart that is breaking. She watched her beloved son scourged and nailed to a cross.

So, remembering what she went through and that Christ performed his first miracle at his mother's request, I ask her to go to her son and ask him to bring healing to the child and peace to the parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle. This has meant so much to me personally, that I wanted to share it with you. Let us pray: Hail Mary, full of grace, in remembrance of the joy you had in first seeing your son, Jesus, so small and dependent - in remembrance of his smiles and trust in you - in remembrance of caring for his cuts and bruises, of nursing Him through an illness - in remembrance of watching him work alongside his earthly father, Joseph - in remembrance of your agonizing sorrow of watching your beloved son nailed to a cross, I ask you to bring and place _____________________ right into your son's arms. Trusting that just as Jesus changed water into wine, he will bring a special blessing of transformation to ______________________. I honor your sacred motherhood of Jesus Christ, our Messiah and Savior. For his sake, thank you. AMEN.