I have always been moved by Jesus’ response to his Mother at the wedding feast at Cana: My hour has not yet come. She knew no response to her Son was necessary and instead proceeded to tell the headwaiter, Do whatever he tells you. Our Blessed Mother modeled one of the greatest gifts a mother can give her son: a bold invitation to action.
I was blessed with a mother who called me to more. She helped me let go of my need for a perfectly mapped-out career before diving into the adventure of marriage and fatherhood. Whenever I wanted to respond to her proddings with “My hour has not yet come,” she consistently invited me to let go of my fear and trust in God above all else.
A month ago, as I write these words, my mother unexpectedly passed from this life. The heartbreak and confusion of this chapter are hard to explain; I miss her voice, her laugh, and her advice. With each day that passes, I’ve realized just how much she blessed me. But the gift I am most grateful for, the most beautiful one she could have given me, was the bold invitation to follow Christ. It echoes into the eternal and lights the way to everlasting life. Even now, I can hear her words asking me to courageously say yes. She did, and always will, point me back to Mary’s encouragement: Do whatever he tells you.
(Alex Dee is father to three, husband to his wife Melissa, and director and co-founder of the Saints Alive podcast.
