Fiat is not just a car. It is the Latin summary for Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel in the story of the annunciation. When he comes to tell her about being the mother of Jesus, we are told that she responds, “I am a servant of God. Let it be done to me as you say.” [Luke 1:38] The word, fiat, the phrase, let it be, encompass the attitude of Mary. She completely submits to God’s will. She is trusting and obedient. She agrees without a fight, making no excuses or objections (unlike Moses and the prophets).
Mary is known for being a model of submissive humility. She is praised for being pure and lowly of heart. She is honored for being humble and willing. She seeks no glory, honor, or fame. And for all of this, she is highly esteemed. In some expressions of Christianity, she is revered over Jesus and even over God! I have been in churches in Mexico where there is a statue of Jesus in the front of the church, and a statue of God over him, and a statue of Mary over God beaming down on the congregation.
Mary is a prominent figure in the Christian faith. She is clearly the most prominent woman of our tradition. She is the primary role model for Jesus who is also known for submitting to God’s will for his life. If Mary was good enough to be the example for Jesus, then she really should be a role model for all people of faith. She exhibits what all believers aspire to: Self giving service to God with complete trust. Her example was not lost on Jesus. And it is encouraged and lifted up for women. But I am not sure that the church has promoted the example of Mary as much for men. Instead, a common message has been that women should submit to men as Mary submits to God.
I think the church would be stronger and more faithful if men were taught to submit to God as Mary (and Jesus) did. We need to follow Mary in training our sons to be submissive, obedient, trusting, humble, pure, and lowly of heart. We need to raise boys and girls not to seek glory, honor, or fame, but to be self giving servants fully submitting to God’s will for their lives and for the world. In the interests of equality, there has been an effort to have girls keep up with boys and achieve more. There hasn’t been the balance of having boys learn to be more humble, obedient, and self giving.
For Christians, anyway, the ideal might be to inculcate service and submission to God and to the common good for all people equally. Parents could be encouraged: “This is what Mary was like and this is how she raised Jesus, so this is how we will raise our children. And we, parents, fathers and mothers, will be examples for our children like Mary.”
Are we going to confine Mary to the role of mother of Jesus, or are we going to submit to her parenting, too?
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the realm of heaven.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Matthew 5: 3, 5, 8
Prayer: It is not easy to give up our selfish desires and our willfulness. Yet all spiritual traditions encourage submission. May we cultivate submission to God so that we might know our deepest worth and highest good. It is in giving that we receive the prayer of St. Francis reminds us. May we be willing to model our lives on Mary’s so that we may be more like Jesus. Amen.
Lakewood United Church of Christ 