The Seven Sorrows of Mary

In the Christian year, the season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (March 5) and ends on Maundy Thursday before Easter (April 17). At Wildewood Christian Church we do not observe Lent in any official way, but we encourage our members and friends to take this time for self-examination, repentance, sober meditation, and spending extra devotional time with our Lord.

The name of the mother of Jesus is translated “Mary” in most English versions. A closer rendering of this name might be “Maria,” as found in Spanish translations. In any case, the name comes from the sister of Moses, called “Miriam” or “Mariam” in the Old Testament. A variation on this is “Mariamne,” the name of one of the wives of King Herod. Miriam was a respected person in the history of Israel, the older sister of Moses and Aaron, and one of the few women given the title “prophet” (Exodus 15:20).

We can see that Jesus’ mother was given a noble name, yet one that was common among Jewish girls and women. The New Testament knows of as many as seven women named “Mary,” such as the Magdalene and the sister of Martha. The Mary we are concerned with might be known as Mary of Nazareth, for that seems to have been her hometown.

Luke tells us that while Mary was still young (maybe 15 or 16), she received a visit from the angel Gabriel. His message? That she would be miraculously pregnant through the work of the Holy Spirit and the son she would bear would be the long-promised Messiah of Israel.

From a human perspective, this news must have been catastrophic to the young woman. To be found pregnant before marriage would have eliminated any hope she had for a successful family life in her future. It takes a minute or two for Mary to absorb this news, but rather than protest, Mary responded, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” She accepted the word of the Lord, humbled herself, and offered herself as the Lord’s servant. I, personally, am overwhelmed by her courage and conviction. 

The mother of Jesus is not a main character in the events of the final week of Jesus’ life on earth. Yet we should not ignore her, for her experiences resonate with many things in our own lives. This year for the Lenten season, I am going to offer weekly meditations based on events in Mary’s life with Jesus that caused sorrow, grief, and anxiety for her. Sometimes called the “Seven Sorrows of Mary,” this is a traditional set of readings that have been used in the church since ancient times. This is combined with a designation for Jesus we often use, Man of Sorrows (based on Isaiah 53:1-6). The sorrows of Jesus and Mary have a deep commonality, I think.

So, while Easter is about Jesus’ death and resurrection, for this Lenten season I would like to view these things through the eyes and emotions of this brave woman, Mary of Nazareth.

Journal Questions:

1. Read Luke 1:26-38. What did Gabriel say that would have excited Mary? What did the angel say that would have encouraged Mary?

2. Think of your own mother. In what ways did you cause her sorrow? Does this help Mary’s experiences become a little more real to you?

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