* Dill, Roman Society from Nero to Marcus Axirelius, pp. 77-80. t Lightfoot, Ep. to the Philippiana, pp. 65-56.
gratified. Her part lay in the careful training, educating, and helping of that great Life which was entrusted to her.
It is singular, and some have thought that it was designed with a view to checking the Mariolatry which in the years to come was to dominate a large section of the Church, that Jesus refuses to allow the unique distinction which Mary certainly had in being the mother of the world's Redeemer to weigh against the worth of religious character. It was natural that one who recognized the beauty of His character and the power of His words should say, ' Blessed be the womb that bare thee, and the breasts that thou didst suck' (Lk IP'); but the answer, whilst admitting the blessing, pointed to a higher one Avithin the reach of all. ' Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it ' (v.^^). This teaching is akin to that He gave when some one directed His attention to the fact that His mother and brethren were wait- ing to see Him. ' Who is my mother, and who are my brethren ? ' — He cried — and then stretching forth His hand towards His disciples, He said, ' Behold my mother and my brethren ! For who- soever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother ' (Mt 12«ff-). From this it is clear that whilst He gave her, who Avas blessed indeed amongst Avomen in being His mother, full opportunities for the development of her mind and spirit, never check- ing during those thirty years those natural desires to knoAv all that He Avould tell her of the Kingdom of Avhich the angel had spoken to her, yet He chiefly valued in her the groAvth of those spiritual graces Avhich had led to her being selected for the high position she held. And nothing is more re- markable than the response she gave. During those three years she almost disappears from sight ; and Avhen at the very last she is seen be- side the cross, her attitude expresses that dignity, reserve, and self-control Avhich she had learned of Him. When the great tragedy is being enacted, and the greatest possible excitement prevails, she, like her Divine Son, maintains an attitude of quiet self- restraint. The Oriental, even the Jewish, mother Avould have been prostrate, Avith dishevelled hair and garments ; Mary is found ' standing ' (Jn U)^^). There is no mention of Avoids, not even of tears. Silently and quietly at the direction of her Son she leaves the cross, though we know that a sAvord Avas at the time piercing her through and through.
We have given much time to the study of the Virgin Mother because she Avas the only Avoman really educated by Christ, in the sense that St. John and St. Peter were, and we see in the little that is told of her what a true woman ought to be. The relation of Christ to the other women of the Gospels is just Avhat Ave should expect from our knoAvledge of His relation to His mother. There is a freedom Avhich surprises even His disciples (Jn 4^'), and a readiness to help Avhich laid His char- acter open to misconception (Lk 7^^). There is also the most delicate sensitiveness to the inner consciousness of shame in the sinner Avhich at once Avins confidence. His hatred of the sin never dominates over His love of the sinner. Simon Avas right in feeling that a prophet Avho kncAv the char- acter of the Avoman Avho had intruded into his liouse would never have alloAved her such close felloAvship as the Saviour alloAved. None but He, the sinless, could have done so. Again, none but He Avould have sliown such patience as Avas seen in His treatment of the woman of Samaria (Jn 4). When He makes it plain that He knoAvs her sin, and she clianges the subject. He does not refuse to folIoAv her, but makes the very controversy she in- troduces a means of spiritual help. It Avas this combination of strength and tenderness, of respect
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WOMAN
WOMANLINESS
for the individuality of the soul and yet desire to disentangle it from its sins, that gave Him just that same pre-eminent place amongst the women as amongst the men of His day. They were glad to be of what assistance they could to His work, and ministered of their substance (Lk 8^). It is char- acteristic that whilst they show a courage which surpasses that of the Twelve, they also show a wealth of devotion which is unintelligible to them. The presence of some near the cross, where they Avould be exposed to insults and rudeness, is as remarkable as St. Mary's gift of the alabaster cruse of ointment in the last week of His life. They respond more readily and easily to the power of His words and Personality. From Martha our Lord obtains a confession, even fuller and more far-reaching than that of St. Peter (Jn 11^"^). And from the heathen Canaanitish woman He re- ceived one of the most remarkable illustrations of faith, the woman's insight penetrating beyond the words to the love which lay underneath them (Mt 1522ff-, MkT^sff-).