MARIAN DEVOTION

Saturday in the Week Before Epiphany
Jn 2:1-11

Today is not only the First Saturday of the month; it is the First Saturday of the year as well. Saturday is the day of the Blessed Mother. Incidentally, the Gospel today is one of the favorite Marian Gospels.

For us, Catholics, it is almost impossible not to mention something about Mama Mary in today’s Gospel. After all, here we find the only recorded command she had ever uttered in the Gospel: “Do whatever He tells you.” And this is exactly the role of the Blessed Mother in the life of every Christian. She directs us to Jesus, her Son and our Lord.

A devotion to the Blessed Mother that puts her over and above Jesus is idolatry. It is a violation of the First Commandment. God alone should we worship.

A devotion to the Blessed Mother that stops with the Blessed Mother is fanaticism. Fanaticism has no place in genuine Christian spirituality. We do not belong to a fans club; we belong to the one sheepfold of Christ, the Church.

A devotion to the Blessed Mother that focuses only on prayer-requests is spiritual utilitarianism. Mama Mary is not a vending machine. Yes, she does intercede for us as every Christian should pray for other Christians, and her intercession is indeed powerful, but Scripture tells us clearly that her first and most important role is to lead us to the Lord Jesus. She gave birth to Jesus so that Jesus may become one like us, save sin.

Whether we admit it or not, many Catholics are indeed guilty of a wrong Marian devotion. And the Blessed Mother is certainly sad about it, for all she wants is to adore Jesus, to be followers of Jesus, and to lead us to Jesus. In the heart of every Marian devotee is heard the command of the Blessed Mother as she points to her Son: “Do whatever He tells you.”