One of the Beatle’s most popular songs is “Let it be.” While Paul McCartney wrote this song about his mother, whose name was Mary, and supposedly appeared to him in a dream offering him hope and consolation at a rough patch in his life. Paul’s mother died of cancer when he was  fourteen.

 Coincidently the song title “Let it Be” are the words Mary responds to the Archangel Gabriel after he announces that she is to become Jesus’ mother. After the song’s release, many took comfort and were thrilled that such a popular song was about Mary, God’s mother.

 However, McCartney has always been clear that this song was unquestionably about his deceased mother, but also happy in welcoming the religious connotation, he said, “I think it’s a great thing to have faith of any sort particularly in the world we live in.”

 As an added fact, Paul McCartney came from a Catholic background in Liverpool, England, and later sang in an Anglican church choir. The enduring  popularity of “Let it Be” and the continuing  association many give  to Mary, the mother of Jesus, is evidence that Mary retains  a hold on  the popular imagination.

 Two thousand years  after Mary entered history, she is still offering comfort to a troubled world. But Mary’s popularity doesn’t depend on the Beatles. If you want to know Mary intimately, the best place is in the Gospel of Luke. Only Mary directly or indirectly  could have provided Luke the account of her miraculous pregnancy. She knew the story and the details no one else knew.  Providing Luke her version, helped Mary keep control how her important story is told.

 The evangelists needed sources especially for details concerning Mary’s Annunciation event. Mary was the only one who knew them,  and Luke was a good listener especially when it involved getting his writing accurate.  Since Mary knew a part of the story no one else knew, and she trusted Luke’s ability, she could easily have decided to relay her story to us through Luke.

 In this way, Mary controlled how her story was explained. It’s a fact  the evangelists who were not eyewitnesses depended on sources,  especially  primary sources like Mary.

 We have to admit, all good writers including the gospel writers like Luke received exclusives from primary sources. That’s why the  great source for the Christmas story could easily be Mary. Didn’t Luke often tell us that Mary pondered things deeply in her heart?  Her closeness to Jesus was pivotal.

 It makes perfect sense to believe that Mary briefed Luke directly. They knew one another closely. She chose him as the particular author to tell her story of the Angel Gabriel’s visit.

 This particular story is not found in any other gospel. It is extremely important that Mary say “Yes” to the Holy Spirit for the rest of her story to happen. Mary had to give a decisive  reply  for her own destiny and for  all of human history: I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be with me  according to your word . In saying this Mary helps us to understand that no one is forced to do what God asks.  We always have the choice to respond with a willing “Yes.”

St Augustine said: “He who made us without our help will not save us without our consent.”  Doesn’t Jesus say: “Many are called, but few are chosen?”  Mary was called and she willingly responded “Yes.” That’s why it is most important  that her story be accurately reported. By this action, Mary shows us that in life we cannot always choose our external circumstances, but we can choose how we respond to them.

Annunciation, painting by Maurice Denis