Mary and Me
In her book, "Mary and Me," Ginny Kubitz Moyer asks the question, “How does Mary, the Mother of God, speak to the modern woman?” The book offers a compelling look at the breadth of Mary’s influence on women today.
Here is an excerpt:
“Several women I talked to tried to imagine what Mary must have felt at the Annunciation both during and after this surprise encounter.
Donna, a fifty-six year old elementary teacher said: 'I wonder if Mary had a few moments of wonder after Gabriel's visit. How am I going to explain this to Joseph and my parents?'
As an unmarried pregnant women, she was opening herself to harsh gossip and ridicule, even death under the Mosaic Law. Agreeing to say yes so quickly makes it all the more radical.
Andrea, a thirty-three year old marriage and family therapy intern said: 'What she did is hard to fathom at my age, let alone being a teenager! It shows us how we, today, can act on faith, even if we cannot understand what is being asked of us.'
It’s clear from my interviews that even though the Annunciation took place two thousand years ago, today’s woman can imagine it as vividly as if it happened yesterday. Whether they feel admiration for Mary’s courage or awe at her swift 'yes,' many modern women can’t help but become personally engaged in her experience.
In a way, that’s not surprising, for the Annunciation is far more than just one girl’s story: it’s an encounter that has the power to speak to all women everywhere. Through Mary’s response, we’re reminded that some truly amazing things can happen when we let faith overcome our fear.”