Behold Your Mother

Behold Your Mother
by Heidi Hess Saxton
Bezalel Books, 2008

 

ISBN:978-09-80048308 Price: $9.99 (USD) Non-US buyers click here Request an Autograph	When she converted to the Catholic tradition in 1994, Saxton says she initially found it difficult to “get close to Mary.” This difficulty resolved itself over time … but she never completely understood her own initial reluctance until she became a foster parent in 2002, and experienced the children’s initial resistance to her parenting efforts. “The Bible tells us that we are children of God by adoption, because of Christ’s atoning work on the cross (Gal 4:5-6). From the cross, Jesus entrusted Mary to his beloved disciple with the words, ‘Behold your mother … behold your son.’ In that moment, Mary became the spiritual mother of the whole Church. Yet she does not keep any glory for herself. True Marian devotion always leads us closer to Jesus. It gives Jesus joy when we honor His mother and His Father. “Those who are raised in the Church learn early on to embrace Mary’s spiritual motherhood, primarily from the example of trusted adults. For those who enter the Church as adults, the transition is often more complex. Many initially resist the Church’s teachings on Mary, wrongly assuming that honoring Mary somehow dishonors God. Thankfully, the reality of Mary’s motherhood is not dependent on our response. She waits for us to turn to her … and draws us close, as a mother does.” Behold Your Mother (72p) contains three short stories from the author’s life that illustrate Mary’s “spiritual motherhood”; then a series of forty-eight short reflections, based on Scripture, on the life of Jesus’ mother. This is a second, expanded edition of Saxton’s book With Mary in Prayer (Loyola Press)
Excerpt from Behold Your Mother
When the hour came … he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise the cup … saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.” Luke 22:14, 19-20 Call it mother’s intuition. I had to be with him. Is it such a terrible thing, a mother making sure that her Son is eating well? So, they showed me the room, and I shooed them out of my kitchen. So much to do! Peeling and roasting and boiling. My Son would have a feast.After dinner I made coffee, and pondered Jesus’ words: “This is my body… my blood.” I was just about to clear the dishes when I heard, “Who is greater? The one seated at the table or the one who serves?” I glanced at my dishpan hands, and wondered What could it mean? Mother of the Lamb: A few days later, your Boy became God’s Lamb. A few days more, and you who served as the disciples argued, became their Queen. Pray for us, that we might serve the Kingdom of Heaven with joyful, willing hands. Amen.