Our Lady’s Seven Last Words

All of Christendom shifts to a somber mood during Holy Week which commemorates Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection. For the Filipino faithful, Holy Week is filled with tradition and ritual (despite the COVID-19 pandemic). The secular media in the Philippines treats Christ’s seven last words (siete palabras in Spanish) on the Cross, as observed on Good Friday, as the week’s “highlight.”

Yet, Our Lady (apart from her seven sorrows) had her own siete palabras. She spoke seven times, according to the Gospel narratives. Her words deserve contemplation by the faithful, especially during Holy Week.

1. “How can this be since I do not know man?” (Luke 1:34)

Mary uttered these words at the Annunciation where the Archangel Gabriel appeared to her and relayed to her the message that she would conceive and bear a Son.

Mary’s utterance of “man” bears reference to a “husband”. The angel’s message to Mary is somewhat similar to the announcements made to some barren women of the Old Testament who through divine intervention became mothers of important figures in salvation history such as Sarah, mother of Isaac, Hannah, mother of Samuel, and Samson’s mother (unnamed in scripture).

Our reflection with regard to Mary’s words should perhaps consist of imploring God’s help in dealing with the vicissitudes and mysteries of life. Do we take a moment to think that perhaps God has a plan for our lives (especially at this time when the world is gripped with a dreadful virus that has killed many people)? Do we often forget that illness and suffering are part of human existence no matter how much we want to avoid them?

2. “I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say” (Luke 1:38).

On the same occasion, Mary expressed total resignation to God’s will. The faithful are reminded that while we exhaust all means to solve our problems, we surrender them to God’s divine hand.

We ought to ask ourselves often: do we live life the best way we can and let God take care of the rest? Or do we rely purely on our own strengths (limited as they are), forgetting that perhaps God wanted us to take a moment to talk and listen to Him?

3. Mary’s greeting to her cousin Elizabeth.

This must have been the usual Jewish salutation Shalom (Luke 1:40). On this occasion, Mary, heavy with child, journeyed “into the hill country to a town of Judah” to visit Elizabeth, who was to give birth to John the Baptist. Her journey was not a walk in the park, of course. Those who have made pilgrimages to that hill country attest that it is a steep mountain with rugged terrain, but Mary made haste to help her cousin.

Luke’s gospel tells us that “Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.” A noted Filipino priest-columnist once wrote that Mary’s example was “Christianity at its best – caring, committed to the welfare of others.”

Perhaps, we need to ask ourselves: do we at times act like prima donnas – distant and insensitive to the needs of other people? Have we taken the trouble to visit those in prison, the sick, and our old folks, and listen to their oft-repeated stories? Or do we care only about our bosses and clients? Are shopping, dining in fancy places, and checking the “likes” in our Facebook posts our main pursuits?

4. “My being proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior….”

This first line of Mary’s hymn of praise (Luke 1:46-56) known as the Magnificat was said at the temple of Jerusalem, when Mary presented to the Lord the Child Jesus in accordance with the Mosaic Law.

In her Magnificat, Mary realized how her divine gifts reflected God’s mercy, fidelity and generosity. What does her Magnificat mean to us Christians? Do we praise and thank God even if we don’t get what we pray for? This writer thinks every petition should sound something like this: “Lord, if these projects and plans of mine are in accord with Your will, let them succeed. If not, let me fall on my face.”

5. “Son, why have you done this to us? Behold your father and I have been searching for you in sorrow” (Luke 2: 48).

Mary uttered these words when she and Joseph, after searching for the boy Jesus for three days, found Him in the temple where the elders were awed with His wisdom! But there was a mystery to Jesus’ reply: “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

Mary said “yes” at the Annunciation and therefore she must have thought that she had to let go of the Son she gave birth to so that He could fulfill His mission. This biblical passage is applicable to parents, especially mothers: Do we guide our children in the ways of the Lord – persevering, prayerful, gentle, slow to anger, charitable, compassionate, caring, faithful? Or do we point the way to sloth, vanity and self-centeredness?

6. “They have no wine” (John 2:3).

Mary said these words at the marriage feast at Cana in Galilee, the start of Jesus’ public ministry. She called His attention to a human need, and thereafter He performed His first miracle – turning water into the best wine there was.

Mary noticed other people’s needs before anyone did, and so it’s natural to believe that she senses our needs before we do. This also shows Mary continues to bring our needs to her Son through her intercession. Filipinos are known for their ardent devotion to Mary. But do we cling and pray to her out of love or only to ask for personal favors?

7. “Do whatever He tells you” (John 2:5).

Mary again spoke, on the same occasion, to those in charge of the wedding feast. She sensed the will of her Son – that He would accede to her request. Jesus’ action indicates that He looks favorably on Mary’s petition.

Our Holy Week reflection regarding this passage should prompt us to ask ourselves: do we really do what Jesus tells us? Love one another, He admonishes us, but people over the centuries have founded countless religious sects and they all hate each other!

Mary’s siete palabras as explicitly recorded in the bible, should impress upon the Catholic faithful, especially Marian devotees, that although we have a special sense of Divine Providence in our lives, we are called to live everything her Son has taught us. Her spoken words tell us that our devotion to her should show itself in our good works.