Mary, Did You Know?

In a visit to Juneau from my home in Sitka, Alaska some 30 years ago, an acquaintance invited me to tour The Shrine of Saint Thérèse, 22 miles north of Juneau. The refuge and retreat center grounds are beautiful, located on Lynn Canal in the Inside Passage.
​
My personal tour guide asked if I’d be interested in seeing the Stations of the Cross. I’d heard of this wonderful, wooded retreat center but wasn’t familiar with the Stations. As we 

Emily Rogers

walked along the peaceful, secluded pathway, we paused at each one contemplating the last earthly hours of Jesus Christ depicted in the 15 stations. The stations are constructed with bases of beach stone and mortar (the same as the lovely chapel on the grounds) and mounted with sculptural alabaster casts. It was a deeply spiritual walk.

As we headed back to the car, I inquired about why there were so many statues of Mary throughout the grounds. He was quite surprised but polite in responding, “Well, she was Jesus’ mother….” Admittedly, I was embarrassed. Of course, I knew that she was the mother of Jesus, but realized that I’d never really given much thought to Mary before.

That same Advent season, I was moved to tears by a singer at my church accompanying herself on acoustic guitar with her rendition of, “Mary, Did You Know?” written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene. And, that’s when I really began thinking about Mary in more depth. What was she like? How did she feel about being called?
​
It’s almost overwhelming to consider the deep belief and trust in God that Mary must have had to accept the angel Gabriel’s word that she would be blessed with God’s son. The lyrics in this song brought richer reflection for me. They delve into what did Mary truly understand about her newborn son.

Did you know that your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This child that you delivered, will soon deliver you

​Surely, most mothers would be considering the miracle of having just delivered a new life into the world, not that the baby would be delivering YOU into new life.
​

Did you know that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby
You kiss the face of God

I imagine that most mothers must dream about who the child they’re carrying will become: a nurse, a teacher, a mason? A husband, a father? A kind man? A loving man? But it seems beyond reason that a mother would consider:

Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?

Yet, Gabriel’s message might have led Mary through those overwhelming questions that most mothers would never think to consider. How blessed we all are that she was not overcome by the weight of those considerations! How blessed we are that her faith was so strong that she raised the Son of God. Even though she was still a girl by today’s standards, it certainly took one very special woman to accept God’s gift and to raise His son.

The tour of the Stations of the Cross and “Mary, Did You Know?” helped me to truly appreciate Mary and makes me especially grateful for her role in God’s plan.
Merry Christmas, Everyone!


Feeling blessed,
Emily