Divinity & Humanity

Though challenged from the moment she accepted her divine calling, Mary must have also experienced quiet joy as she felt her child move and grow within her, eagerly awaiting the day she would hold her sweet babe in her arms. We read that she pondered the many miracles she experienced in her heart. What would the future hold for him? What would it hold for her?

In this painting I tried to capture one such reflective moment, Mary sits unaware that she is already encircled by symbols pointing to the path she and her son will walk together—a future of both wonder and sacrifice.

She sits with the little lamb at her feet. Perfect and without spot…Symbolic of the Sacrifice he would suffer for all of us.

She is encircled by a purple cloak….Symbolic of his holy and royal blood, on earth and in heaven.

She is taking in the beauty of the Olive Grove….Symbolic of the time he would surrender his will to the will of His Father and suffer for us there.

She is resting her hand on a water vessel…This could symbolize so many things. What does it symbolize to you? To me it represented his first miracle. The miracle she asked for him to do at the wedding party and turn water into wine. I have often pondered on this Miracle. Why did he say, “Woman, my hour has not yet come?” but then performed the miracle anyway. There could be many reasons for this, but a possible reason that I love is that perhaps, God the Father allowed her this moment. We know that once he preformed this miracle, their lives were never the same. Maybe this was her way of saying, my son, I know what you need to do, I know that you are ready and I know that it is time for me to let you go and do it.

I love this woman beyond words. Her courage and example has been an inspiration to so many and her sacrifice changed the world.