“His mother said to the servers, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’” (John 2:5).

This Mother’s Day, let’s reflect upon the genius of Jesus’s mother, Mary, and her role in the story of God’s quest for each of us.

Pearls of Wisdom From Mary

“What can we possibly learn from a woman who lived in ancient times?” one might ask.  Although Mary may have been a woman of few words in the Bible, nonetheless, we can learn from her the following timeless tips:

• Ask questions (Luke 1:34).

• Say “yes” to God (Luke 1:38).

• Praise God. (Luke 1:46-55).

• Keep an eye on your preteen (Luke 2:48).

• Appreciate the calamity of not having wine on hand (John 2:3).

• Point others to Jesus (John 2:5).

Not bad advice from someone who lived so long ago! In particular, the acknowledgement of difficulty when not having wine on hand speaks to any mom who finally manages to tuck her toddler into bed after a day without a nap or to any mom who collapses on the couch having struggled with fourth grade math and hearing from her child, “That’s not how the teacher told us to do it.”

His Mother Became Our Mother

Long ago, we were granted direct access to Mary and her quiet but infinite knowledge base.

“Behold, your mother!” Jesus said to the disciple at the foot of the Cross (John 19:27). During those final moments of Jesus’s life, he gave us the precious gift of his mother. From then on, we became Mary’s adopted children. As such, we have someone we are invited to be close to, someone to turn to, and someone who is there to listen to us.

Mary’s life as mother demonstrates she is there for it all — engaging in ordinary conversations around the dinner table, bandaging a throbbing finger inadvertently hit by a hammer, hugging joyfully after ceremonial milestones, meeting children’s acquaintances who are brought into the family circle, and standing firm at the foot of the cross.

A friend who has more children than she can count on two hands rightly declared, “I talk to Mary because as a mother, she gets it.”

What Mary Already Knew About Us 2,000 Years Ago

In the story of the wedding at Cana, we hear Mary saying to Jesus, “They have no wine” (John 2:3). When we broaden our interpretation of that reference, we see our Mother taking to Jesus our needs and wants, which many times include the following:

• Comfort and encouragement.

• Connection, close personal relationships, or a professional mentor.

• Wisdom and tools to grow in faith, as a parent, or as a businessperson.

• Financial and physical security.

• Confidence, resilience, and drive.

Mary is a path provided to us to help us reach God. As a figure we already are comfortable with — a mother — we can benefit from connecting with Mary, who can ease our struggles even at times when we may not feel ready to talk directly to the Father.

Mary’s Village

Often, the response to our stated needs and wants is channeled by the people who become present in our life and the resources they create. We can see Mary’s touch and wisdom demonstrated in the actions and words of our own earthly mothers, our friends, and the people we look up to professionally. The phrase “It takes a village” describes how we each bring our skills and knowledge base to others to help raise children, support communities, and promote businesses.

Our village provides us a wealth of guidance. For example, if we are not particularly talented in homemaking, we can turn to the beautiful pages of “Theology of Home” by Carrie Gress and Noelle Mering. If we are looking for direction to deepen our faith, St. Thérèse of Lisieux’s words in “Story of a Soul” offer insight. If we are not particularly talented in the art of how we present ourselves, we can turn to Nicole M. Caruso’s upcoming book, “Worthy of Wearing.” And, the articles of Catholic Women in Business provide numerous voices that highlight the connection between faith and our professions. Mary’s village includes a multitude of women from ancient times to the modern day who share knowledge and ideas about how to grow closer to God.

One Statement Says It All

As we reflect upon the impact our heavenly Mother, our earthly mother, and the women who have stepped into a motherly role at various times of our life, Mary’s last recorded words in the Bible sum up all of the wisdom and advice that seek to point us to Jesus: Her command, “Do whatever he tells you,” is brilliant in its brevity and full in its loving promise.  As we celebrate Mother’s Day, we honor all mothers by following Mary’s direction (and bringing them welcome gifts of wine, too).

Linda A. Burrows is an attorney specializing in trust and estate law in southern California.  She studied journalism at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, law at Pepperdine, and is currently pursuing a masters in tax law at Georgetown.  Linda is the founder of Soul Soda, a non-profit with the mission of refreshing faith in those, particularly Catholics, who are feeling disconnected from their religious roots.  She is a wife and mother of three teens.  Linda’s Confirmation name was that of St. Gabriel the Archangel.