Day 21 - The New Eve

"Now the man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all the living." 

(Genesis 2:20)

In the final book of the Bible, a woman is described. She gave birth to a male child and is "clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars" (Revelation 12:1). The passage goes on to explain that the ancient serpent wages war against her and she defeats him. The Church teaches that one interpretation of this passage is that the woman is symbolic of Mary, the Mother of God. Mary is the queen of heaven, and it is she who God chose to use to bring Christ into the world to defeat the ancient serpent. 

The imagery in the Revelation passage draws us back to the first book of the Bible, Genesis, when the serpent tempted Eve. There is one key difference between these two women. Eve was defeated by the serpent while Mary defeats him. One woman's "yes" to sin was redeemed through another woman's "yes" to give birth to the Savior. St. Ireneus wrote, "The knot of Eve's disobedience was loosened by Mary's obedience. The bonds fastened by the virgin Eve through disbelief were untied by the virgin Mary through faith."  The virtue of Mary created a channel for grace to come back into the world and redeem the sin of Eve. Eve lost her sense of dignity through sin and Mary regained dignity for all women through virtue. 

Mary is the New Eve. "Eve" means "living." Adam gave Eve her name because she was the mother of all the living. Mary became the new mother of all the living by bringing Christ into the world and sharing in His redemptive plan. Mary's "yes" made her the spiritual mother for all the redeemed. Her Son made this clear when he was on the cross. In John 19:26, the Lord gave his mother to John, saying "behold your mother." John took Mary into his home as his own mother from that day on. Christ also said to Mary, "woman, behold your son." Notice, he used the the word "woman," the same word used in Genesis & Revelation. She is the new woman, the new mother of all. The Lord gave his mother to us as our own mother to to take into the home of our hearts. She cares for us like any mother cares for her children. She brought Christ into the world and she continues to lead the world back to Christ. 

We each also have the mission to bring Christ into the world. Christ first entered the world through the womb of Mary and every woman has the opportunity to say, "yes," as she did, to carry Christ into the world through the womb of her heart. We too are called to be "new eves." Our yes to virtue, to live true beauty, opens the channel for grace to pour into our hearts, transform our lives, and to allows us to bring Christ into the world. We are called to be victorious over sin. Taking Mary as our mother, we will begin to imitate her as little children do, and she will lead us to be beautiful signs of new life, "new eves" in the world. 

Beware, the serpent is still at work. In the book of Revelation, after Mary defeats the serpent, he becomes angry and leaves to go after her children. We are in a great spiritual battle to behold and live beauty. We cannot assume that our "yes" is enough. Yet, those who are close to Mary will overcome the serpent with her. She will lead us to victory if we embrace her and follow her example. 

New life comes through living virtue, spiritual life that is deeper and more fulfilling than anything we've ever experienced. Let our "yes" be a new beginning that unties the knots of our sin and opens the channel for grace to flow in our lives. The Ave Maris Stella says, "Peace confirm within us, changing Eve's name." May we each answer the call to become the new eves who change the course of history by bearing the Savior in our hearts. 

Today's Challenge: 

Pray a "Hail Mary" and invite Mary into the home of your heart as your Mother. As her to lead you to her Son. Ask her to help you to live beauty through virtue. 

Today's Prayer: 

Click here to pray the Ave Maris Stella