Mary, Mother of Jesus and First Disciple: a Re-reading

Abstract

The article offers a re-reading of biblical accounts on Mary in the Gospels and in Acts with consideration of the theological perspectives of the gospel writers’ way of presenting Mary’s role as mother of Jesus and disciple. Biblical scholarship has established a strong case that the evangelists are drawing the readers' attention away from Mary's blood relationship with Jesus and more towards her bonds of discipleship and faith. This signals a reinterpretation of the symbol of Mary’s motherhood for our time and for particular cultures so that women and men may find in it a meaning that they can re-appropriate for themselves.