Eve In The Context of Mary

“Let us live as the Blessed Virgin lived: loving God only, desiring God only, trying to please God only in all that we do.” ~ St. John Vianney

In today’s 1st Reading (Genesis 3:9-24) we are reminded of the harsh repercussions of Original Sin, meted out to all involved in relation and proportion to their culpability. As we gather in celebration of the Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as the Church is wont to do on Saturday Mornings throughout the Liturgical Year, one can’t help but marvel at the differing outcomes of Eve’s “my will be done” moment versus our Blessed Mother’s “thy will be done” response.

The story of The Fall is well known, well documented, and well experienced by all of us, as we now live and breathe in the sinful world that this tragic event gave birth to. Mary on the other hand would go on to be crowned the Queen of Heaven, a title and honor more prestigious and glorious than any other ever achieved by any other human being in the history of time. And it all started with this very proclaimation:

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” From this mustard seed grew an Eternal Heavenly Queenship.

In today’s Gospel (Mark 8:1-10) wherein Jesus multiplies the fishes and loaves, this abundant generosity of God is once again on display. We see yet again that whatever we give of ourselves to God, no matter how seemingly meager our offering is, he multiplies it beyond our imagination.

For our sins he gave us his Son.

Realizing that we are still prone to sin, he forgives 70 x 7.

For our faith he gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit.

For those who have fallen away from the Church, he gives us his Mother, who through her intercession we can return ala the Prodigal Son.

And to Mary, the humble servant of the Lord, he crowned her Queen.

“Oh clement, oh loving, of sweet Virgin Mary; pray for us Oh Holy Mother of God....that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.”