If you look through Catholic art and history, you will find that Mary has been depicted in various ways according to the time period and the culture. If you read the Gospels you will find that the four evangelists have also portrayed her in different ways.
Mark almost seems to see her as an outsider in 3: 31-35. Matthew places her in the Messiah’s genealogy, but in the nativity story, the main focus in on Joseph. Luke, on the other hand, portrays Mary as a woman of faith, beginning with the story of the Annunciation and ending with her being with the other disciples at Pentecost. John never actually names her, but John presents her as a faithful disciple, being present at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry at Cana and at the end of his ministry at Calvary.
Despite much of the artwork depicting her, Mary was, first of all, a Jewish woman, very unlikely to have had blue eyes or light coloured hair. She had a strong belief in the one living God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Prayer was a part of her daily life, and despite the fear she felt when the angel came to her, she wasn’t afraid to ask questions. She used both faith and reason. She had the courage to say yes, despite the uncertainty and obvious risks involved in becoming pregnant while she was betrothed to Joseph.
What was life like for Mary in Roman occupied Palestine? It was both difficult and dangerous, filled with tension, poverty, unrest and violence. Many women biblical scholars from the Third World see similarities in Mary’s life then with those of so many poor women in their own countries now.
When we recall the story of Mary and Joseph going to Bethlehem to be counted, we can also see many poor women and children driven from their homes today, because of debt, taxation, or decreasing natural resources. When we recall the story of Mary giving birth in a stable, we can see many pregnant women today who do not have basic pre-natal care, babies who are born in the worst possible conditions, and a high infant mortality rate.
When we recall the story of the flight into Egypt, we can see women and children today running to escape being raped, tortured or killed by unjust or invading military forces. When we recall the story of Mary at the foot of the cross, we can see the faces of so many women today who have had their sons, fathers or husbands murdered or “disappear” at the hands of a dictatorial regime.
Back to the original question, “Who is Mary?” She has traditionally been seen as a model of prayer, piety, and obedience to the will of God. She has been seen by some as being very passive. But when we look again at the Gospel stories and think about the times in which she lived, we realize that she was not passive but very pro-active indeed.
Mary is a model of courage in the face of danger – she did what needed to be done to save the life of her child. She was faithful to her vocation when it was difficult or even dangerous to do so. Mary is a model of faith but she was also not afraid to ask questions. She experienced physical danger at the hands of an unjust regime, but in the Magnificat she proclaims a God of justice for all. Mary was greatly puzzled by some of the things that her son said and did, but she loved him unconditionally to the very end. And through it all, she did not lose her own identity, her faith in God, or her faith in herself.
Mary certainly must have felt the presence of God when Jesus was born. But she also must have felt the absence of God at Calvary as she heard her son say,“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” But God did not abandon her, any more than God abandons us. The Resurrection assures us that our God is a faithful God, who always was, is, and will be with us.