(03/15/13)

There simply is not a great deal that can be said about this Mary. That she had sons is clear. That she had, at some point, been married to Clopas is presumed to be the case. Beyond that point, though, it seems we devolve rather swiftly into raw speculation. She is, by some, thought to be the sister of Mary mother of Jesus. This is primarily built upon the structure of John 19:25, assuming that ‘His mother’s sister’ and ‘Mary the wife of Clopas’ are to be considered on and the same. Of course, then they start comparing children’s names, and thinking how odd that these two Maries, so closely related, should name their children the same names. Both had a James. Both had a Joseph. Both, according to some versions of the accounting, had a Simon. But, lo! If she is not sister of the Lord’s mother, the problem goes away rather quickly, doesn’t it?

About the only thing we have reason to think is that her James the Less is that James, son of Alphaeus who is numbered amongst the Apostles. It is possible that Simon the Zealot was also hers, but that connection seems far less certain. However, having even the one son traveling with Jesus gives us a relatively common explanation for her presence here. After all, Mrs. Zebedee has clearly been with them for some portion of their time. And, Jesus’ mother has been around, as well.

There are other suggestions which could be followed as to her background, possible wealth, and so on, but it’s indefinite. I have to suppose it was left indefinite for good reason. That good reason was not, I should think, to give us something about which to speculate. It was left that way because those details were quite frankly unimportant. They were unimportant to the Evangelists, because they have no direct bearing on the message of the Gospel, of the King of kings and His mercy. They were unimportant to her, because she was never seeking for her own anyway.

Whether she had originally joined the crowd around Jesus simply to keep an eye on her boys, or whether because she had experienced some sort of healing at His hands, or simply because the Truth He spoke registered in her ears; here at the end it is clear that it is His Truth that holds her. What she is doing, together with Mary Magdalene, would seem to go well beyond what is required. It is not her son in that grave, nor is she some professional mourner. Wherefore, then, should she be required to provide the embalming materials? Wherefore is it somehow incumbent upon her to go out this Sunday morning and deal with a corpse that has now been decomposing for some few days. Remember that concern that was expressed when Jesus had the tomb of Lazarus opened? Oh, Lord! But, the stench! You really want to do this? This woman acts with none to command, and so far as she knows, that cave in which He has been lain is going to be just as ripe at this point.

Yet, she goes. And what’s more, it would seem she has paid for the requisite ointments, at least in part. This is truly selfless. There is nothing to be gained by her for these acts, at least as measured in human terms. The gratitude of His mother? That’s nice and all, but you know, life goes on without it. Reputation? If anything, it seems she risks her reputation going out to honor this One that the temple crowd has so clearly destroyed. Does she not invite the same upon herself? Perhaps even upon her children? Yet, she pays. Yet, she goes. And, more marvelous still, depending how one views the composite scene set before us at the tomb, it seems that she enters that tomb to see what’s going on in spite of the guards laid out on the ground outside! If nothing else, we must say this woman is brave.

But, it is the selflessness of her actions that stands out. She acts without any thought of her place in history. I have to say that I rather doubt any of these who are present are acting from that basis. To be sure, there have been those thoughts of glory, the competitiveness of the apostles. But, even such competitiveness and dreams of the future needn’t reflect that sort of personality that demands its place, demands the honors, and works for no greater purpose than to garner the accolades. But, in her case, it seems most pronounced.

Think of it. The Scriptural account of her existence gives us only those two bare facts. She had sons, and she went to the tomb to help prepare the body of Jesus. That’s it. Nothing is said of her reasons for following Him. At least, Mary Magdalene has that much. Nothing is said of how it is she could be with them. Nothing is said of what became of her, what reward she had for her troubles. She was here. She acted. End of story. This is, I should think, a fine model for ourselves. To the degree that we serve our Lord, we ought truly to serve Him for the simple fact that He is our Lord.

Think back across the parables. What cause has the servant to expect reward for doing what is expected of him? Is he to be praised for doing his job? No. Rather he ought to expect rebuke and worse should he fail to be doing his job. I could make some commentary on our modern society here, but it probably isn’t that necessary. The contrast is fairly obvious. That said, though, it is worth considering whether the perspectives of modern society haven’t had their influence upon our sensibilities when it comes to our part in the life of the Church.

I would point out, as a simple example, how much of an impact this new Pope made on the thoughts of people for simple little things like refusing, at least in these first moments, to be puffed up by his new position. No. He can still take the bus like any other mortal. He is still a man, just a man. Like this Mary. She is a woman, a mother, a friend. She is an ordinary person caught up in extraordinary events. But, those events, the products of heaven, are far more important to her than her presence in the midst of it. She seems, in her way, to demonstrate that attitude that John the Baptist preached: He must increase. I must decrease.

How much we could benefit, if we were to adopt this understanding that the world does not revolve around us! How needful it is that we, particularly, who know, love and serve the Risen Christ, should battle that pride-filled attitude with everything that is within us. May we all, like this all but unknown Mary, be people who do what is right simply because it is right. May we all serve our Lord simply because He is Lord, no thought for self or legacy, but all for Him.