Tea with the Theotokos

Meditations on the Mother of God

As I was almost mid-point through the "Coffee Series" (Java with Jesus; Cappuccino with Christ; Latte with the Lord), I thought about a future project that I might undertake focusing on the Mother of God. Keeping with the morning beverage theme, I considered the title, Tea with the Theotokos, which would ultimately become the title of this current book.

For those unfamiliar with the term, Theotokos, it is the title given to Mary in the Christian East, and comes from two Greek words. This word has sometimes been roughly translated, "Mother of God" in various liturgical hymns, but is not an exact translation from the original Greek, though I will use these terms interchangeably in this book.

This project brought me out of my own spiritual "comfort zone" to examine the various sources beyond the two traditions from which my personal spirituality evolved. I see this as a growth experience through which the Holy Spirit was going to lead me, and hopefully the reader, closer to the only human being who was like us in an even more similar way than her Son. He, having both Divine and human natures, only shared one of those natures with us. His Mother, on the other hand, was completely like us in our human nature, tough sinless. Thus, I found that I could relate to her as a woman, a daughter, and a child of God, as well as a fellow human being.

For Her love and care, I thank the Most Holy Theotokos for being my Mother, given to me by Her Son at the foot of the Cross when He gave her to John, and therefore to the entire Church. May these words help to show forth her beauty and love to all who shall read them.

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Sample Meditation

MEDITATION 10

"Do Whatever He Tells You"

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there, and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited. And they ran out of wine, since the wine provided for the feast had all been used, and the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." Jesus said, "Woman, what do you want from Me? My hour has not come yet." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever He tells you" (John 2:1-5).

Within the pages of Sacred Scripture we do not hear many words coming from the mouth of the Mother of God. Yet, whatever the Gospel writers have recorded of her words have profound meaning for us - even today.

This Scriptural passage comes from the Gospel of St. John, wherein he records the first of Jesus' signs, or miracles. From Jesus' words, "My hour has not come yet," we may derive that His mother's request came as a kind of surprise to Him. The reason that it became His first miracle was that His Mother saw a need, and knew that it was one that Her Son could fill. We must recall that Mary herself was a wife, and thus she probably thought back of her own wedding feast when she and Joseph were married. Perhaps she thought, "I'm so glad this predicament didn't occur at our wedding. We would have been devastated if we ran out of wine! How might this young bride and her husband be saved from this potential embarrassment?"

Mary's words to the servants, "Do whatever He tells you," have a broader implication than simply for the servants to follow her Son's directions and make sure there was enough wine at a wedding. Rather, it is her message to us who follow Her Son today. She wants us to do whatever Christ asks of us - even when what He desires may seem impossible - or in opposition to our wishes. After all - who at the wedding would have ever thought that someone could turn water into wine?

If we do whatever Christ tells us - no matter the level of difficulty, we will find true joy in our lives - even in the midst of angst and trouble. Let us heed our Mother's words and be open to whatever Christ has in store for us, for we know it will only be to our benefit.

Most Holy Mother, you spoke these words of obedience to Your Son, not for that one occasion only, but for as an example for all of us who follow Him. Do not allow our own wills to get in the way of obedience to Him, but rather show us that by following Him, we shall come to "see the goodness of the Lord, in the land of the living." Amen.