From all of our Father’s daughters, Mary the mother of the Savior was chosen before she was born to be the mother of God’s almighty Son. (*1) Mary was the noblest and greatest of all of our Father’s daughters. (*2) Her name, an exalted position, was known centuries before she was ever born. (*3) She was of the tribe of Judah, and through her blood the scepter of leadership would pass to Shiloh. The Lord’s mother was of the royal line of King David, thus making her a princess. (*4) And her name, Mary, is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Miriam, which means ‘exalted.’ (*5)

In a land ripe with apostasy and corruption, she was clean and pure, and worthy before the Lord. (*6)

By her obedience, she attained a place of special favor with God. He loved her, and He counted Mary as precious. Even the mighty Gabriel said, “Hail thou that art highly favored, blessed art thou among women.” (*7)

Mary was an extraordinarily beautiful woman. In fact, of all virgins, she was, the prophet said, the most beautiful and fair ever to live. (*8) And what of her being a virgin? Jesus was born of a woman that there could never be even the slightest doubt or disputation whose son He was. With Gabriel’s call, Mary responded, “…Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word...” (*9)

For all that Mary was great, Mary was humble. And I further believe that by that declaration never was so much accepted by any woman in so few words. And even though Mary was young, she was not naïve nor uninformed. There was a maturity about her. Listen to these words: “…my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.” she said when she met Elizabeth. (*10) Mary understood the prophecies, and she had a relationship with God even before she bore His Son.

I find it inspiring that when Mary was with child, and it came to a choice between standing in public favor with Joseph as her husband, or standing alone as the mother of God’s Son, facing the possibility of public shame and even punishment, she chose the lonelier course. She was a woman who was true at all times. Moreover, she bore the ordeal of the journey to Bethlehem, and giving birth in the manger – and there is not the least inference in the revelations anywhere that Mary ever murmured, doubted, or wavered.

While others announced far and wide the birth of her chosen son, I find it interesting that Mary kept a disciplined and sacred silence. Mary saw and understood many things, which she did not share. Through her son, the law of Moses would be fulfilled. Yet Mary complied with that law’s every command after His birth.

She was a woman of courage and determination. You’ll remember that Simeon proclaimed in the Temple, “(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thine [thy] own soul also,)...” (*11) Mary was as close to Jesus as any human being could be. What mother does not suffer at the suffering of her babes? All that ever came upon Him, even to the spear that pierced Him at the end, came in some measure upon her. Yet she bore it valiantly to the very end.

Mary was loyal and devoted to Joseph. Even though she was the woman chosen, and the woman of great favor, she obeyed Joseph’s dreams and followed Him into Egypt, and later into Nazareth.

Similarly, she had absolute faith in her son. When she needed a miracle of wine, she came to Him. And how it must have hurt her when her other sons, James, Joses, Simon and Judah, did not accept their older brother Jesus for who and what He was. (*12) Her loyalty to her son was total. In His infancy, she would protect Him; in His manhood, He would watch over her; in His Godhood, He would exalt her. And all generations, now and forever, deservedly call her ‘blessed among women.’

Thank God for Mary. There is so much more about that holy woman that we do not know and cannot say, that will someday be revealed to the faithful as one of the greatest women ever to live.

Merry Christmas.