Compare and contrast your thoughts and emotions around Mary’s character in the Gospels before and after this session. What has shifted in your perception of Mary? Why?

[Austin]

I have always seen Mary as blessed and highly favored by God and this perception of her has not changed. I have learned to appreciate her as a strong woman of God and disciple of Jesus as well as a prophet through this study. I now see Mary, the mother of Jesus, as a complex and multi-faceted individual rather than a one-dimensional essential character in the Gospel.

[Austin]

I never saw her as more than a very concerned mother. But God’s grace and mercy is working to take the burden of loss of a child from her and in its place giving Mary the citizenship to a Heavenly Kingdom along with all other chosen disciples.

[Austin]

Before this session, I saw Mary mostly as a quiet and obedient figure in Jesus’ life, important but often passive. After learning more, I now see her as a complex person with both courage and faith, willing to embrace a challenging role amid societal pressures. She was not only Jesus’ mother but also a disciple and prophet, especially through her powerful “Magnificat,” where she voiced a vision of justice and hope. This shift in my perception came from understanding her strength and spiritual insight, which add depth to her character beyond simply being a mother.

[Austin]

Before listening to the lecture, I only thought of Mary as Jesus’ mother and nothing more, but now I realize she is much more important. She’s a prophet that is always loyal to God and she and Jesus are always shown as an inseparable pair in the Bible.

[Austin]

I’ve grown up in church and recently have done a women’s bible study, I’ve always just thought of Mary as this cool girl that became the mother of Jesus, but she’s more than that. I’ve learned that Mary is most likely around my age and was approached by an angel to discover that suddenly she’s pregnant. And she took those news like a champ because so many different things could’ve happened to her, and that’s how you know God was protecting her. Joseph could’ve quietly divorced her, she could’ve been disowned and brought shame to her family, but that didn’t happen. Mary had to be strong during that time and fully rely on and trust in God or she would’ve been a mess, so I really look up to Mary because she was so brave and strong.