“Let it be according to your word” are the words of Mary when the Angel announced to her that she would bear a son who was to be great, and would be called the son of the Highest. These are also the words of the church. God has a plan for the church: to bring Christ to the world. So the church’s reply: “Let it be according to your word.”

This reply of Mary brought with it a world of suffering, as Simeon told her, “a sword will pierce through your own soul.” So also this means suffering for the church. When the church bears Christ and brings him to the world she is persecuted and mocked; she suffers enormously.

As the church reads about the life of Mary, she can find in her a reflection of herself. Mary is the first church, who first was the temple of Jesus Christ in her very flesh. Because of her obedience the church itself was born—or reborn rather, adopted by God so that Jesus is the first among brothers. In this sense Mary is the mother of the church, the first church who set the example that we might walk in.

The apostles tell us to follow the example that they left. In this sense they are our spiritual fathers. Mary leaves us not many words, but her example is indeed one to be followed and emulated by the church.

First, God’s word came to her. She did not understand it first saying “How will this be since I am a virgin.” When the angel assured her that God was accomplishing his plan of salvation for Israel she submitted, received God’s word by faith into her very body, incarnate as Jesus Christ. Here she becomes to exemplary mother of the church: she receives God’s word and accepts it by faith. The power of God’s word planted in her the Word Incarnate for the salvation of the world.

It is true to say that because of Mary’s obedience we received life. Furthermore we might say that Mary herself birthed God’s salvation into the world by her submission to God’s will. In this way also she is our mother. While the apostles teach with their words, Mary teaches by her example. As her children we do well to emulate her.