In our last part of the series “Great Mothers of the Bible” let’s look into Mary, the mother of Jesus when He was here on earth.

Sinabi sa kanya ng anghel, “Huwag kang matakot Maria, sapagkat naging kalugud-lugod ka sa Diyos. Makinig ka! Ikaw ay maglilihi at manganganak ng isang sanggol na lalaki, at siya‘y papangalanan mong Jesus. Paano pong mangyayari ito gayong ako‘y isang birhen” tanong ni Maria. Sumagot ang anghel, sasaiyo ang Espiritu Santo at mapapasailalim ka sa kapangyarihan ng kataas-taasang Diyos. Sumagot si Maria, Ako‘y alipin ng Panginoon. Mangyari nawa sa akin ang iyong sinabi.

Lucas 1:30–31; 34–35; 38

How would you react when God gives you a difficult and impossible task? Will you shudder with fear, or run away from God like Jonah? (Jonah 1:3). Or will you have the attitude of Mary? Though troubled, confused, and fearful, she accepted a seemingly impossible task.

Mary knew the dire consequences of her decision, but she courageously obeyed because she loved God (Luke 1:38). With her decision, Mary would be shamed and stoned to death for being pregnant and unwed. To save her from being disgraced, Joseph, her fiancée, planned to divorce her secretly until the angel of God confirmed in his dream the real story of Mary‘s pregnancy. Joseph then accepted the role of being a father to the Son of God who became man (Matthew 1:18–25).

Dahil sa extraordinary faith and obedience nina Mary at Joseph, naisakatuparan ang master plan of salvation ni God for all humanity (Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6-7).

Mary’s most courageous obedience was conforming to God’s will of having her Son die on the cross para sa atin. More than loving Jesus as her son, Mary loved Him as her Lord and Savior. In the gospels and the Book of Acts, we see her as among the disciples who followed Jesus around.

Napakaganda ng naging halimbawa ni Mary ng pagsunod sa Diyos. No matter how impossible it may seem, or how difficult it may be, God will make a way to accomplish His will (Isaiah 43:19). Nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37-45). Shouldn’t this encourage us — with God’s help — to obey Him as well?

We salute you all, our dear mothers! God bless you!