Woman of the Desert

Text: Revelation 11: 19 - 12: 6, 10

This passage refers both to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and to the Church herself.  In both a real historical reality is noted.  Mary will flee from her home region of Galilee and spend her days in quiet in Ephesus, the place of quiet solitude.  The Church will also flee the region of Israel at the time of the Jewish revolt and she will go to the desert of Jordan and to Petra.  Each of these events are both signified in this passage and present to us the posture of the Church in the world for all times.

The Church is not called to occupy seats of worldly power.  Still less is she called to anoint and serve as chaplain to the powers of this world.  For the powers of this world are the ancient dragon who seeks to destroy the woman, the Church.  For her part, Mother Church is to flee into the desert, to seek solace in God alone as Jesus had done in the desert.  She is to divest herself of all claims to earthly power, influence, and wealth in order to be with her Lord in the desert.

Today's feast reminds us of Mary's total fidelity to God, of her continual place in the desert of refuge in the Lord alone.  For this she was privileged to be taken up entirely into the reign of God.  Today is our day to begin to imitate Mary's example, fleeing to the desert and relying on God alone for our refuge and home, forsaking the powers, influence, and wealth of the world in order to pass through the desert to the reign of God.