A recent cover of National Geographic magazine referred to Mary of Galilee as "the most powerful woman in the world."
Though religious icons may seem of little significance in the largely agnostic Western world, in our evolving global community it is important to have at least some understanding of those who are influential to people from other cultures. Mary is certainly one of these icons.
From the Middle East to Mexico, elaborate celebrations take place in her honour and countless institutions on most-every continent bear her name. Historically Mary lived her life as a Jew, yet gave birth to the Christ, and more is written about her in the Muslim Koran than in the Christian Bible.
The essence of her message is simple. Regardless of circumstances, we are to continue to do good and to believe that all will be well. There is and always has been strife, yet "she promises peace." In fact, in hopeless situations devotion to Mary seems to grow stronger.
The Cold War was the darkest period of history that I personally experienced. Soviet allies and American allies pointed weapons of mass destruction at each other and the superpowers fought covertly in many parts of the world. Mary was a comfort to all, regardless of their alliances.
When mothers lost their children to power hungry despots in Latin America, East Timor, the Philippines and Poland, who did they turn to for comfort? To a woman who had also seen her own son violently executed. And she not only comforted them, she gave them hope.
There is a fascinating story of Mary appearing to three peasant children in Portugal in 1917. Her message essentially was that there would be wars, that a Russian dictatorship would spread its influence through the world, but that peace and freedom would be re-established. All we needed to do was to believe in this promise and do good.
I was astounded when the Iron Curtain collapsed without a shot being fired. Was it a coincidence that the first cracks in the Soviet Block appeared in Poland, where devotion to Mary was its strongest?
Since the end of the Cold War the world has suffered tumult due to changes in the world order. Could it again be a coincidence that huge Marian pilgrimages are taking place in Bosnia and Rwanda, two areas of the world wracked by genocide and in need of healing?
Regardless of what we personally believe, it cannot be denied that Mary plays a significant part in the lives of hundreds of millions of Christians and Muslims all over the world, and that does make her extremely powerful.
Though her message has been distorted by some and used to justify female subservience, if we scratch the surface we see that this has nothing to do with Mary or her message.
Do good believing that peace is inevitable, all will be well. That is a powerful message from a simple little Jewish lady who was with child before she was married and lived more than 2,000 years ago.
She always followed her conscience and she ended up changing the world.
What an example to follow.
