Mary’s rallying cry is not for the faint of heart

Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Women’s roles in society and in the church have taken on a new meaning in the last few years. With the #metoo movement and a new awareness of how women have been exploited or treated as second-class citizens, we might also examine our implicit biases about Mary.

Do we view Mary has a submissive vessel of God’s will or a rebel who sang of the mighty being overthrown? In our religious imagination, expressed in our preaching, prayers, and musical choices, is Mary solely a pure virgin or was she a bold teacher of Jesus from whom he learned to speak and act prophetically with courage?

The Magnificat which we recall today is not a canticle for the faint of heart. It is the rally cry of a person whose strength transcends her own societal boundaries and whose courage can inspire a new model for women in the church.