Mary’s Swords

Pictures of Mary/Mariam with seven swords piercing her heart are common in Roman Catholic churches and traditions. The seven swords represent the prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:34–35), the flight to Egypt (Matt 2:13–21), the loss of Jesus for three days (Luke 2:41–50), the carrying of the cross (John 19:17), the crucifixion of Jesus (Joh 19:18–30), Jesus taken down from the cross (John 19:39–40), and Jesus laid in the tomb (John 19:39–42). These represent seven times when she was sorrowful. This tradition began with St. Bridget of Sweden in the 14th century AD.

Without a doubt, Mariam would have grieved greatly at each one of these events. Her firstborn son was chased away, lost, beaten, wounded, killed, and buried.

Simeon’s prophecy, however, had a much deeper meaning than Mariam’s sorrow. After prophesying that YHWH’s salvation had come to Israel and all the nations, Simeon blessed Jesus’s parents, Joseph and Mariam (Luke 1:34b). Then he said to Mariam:

“See, this one is laid down for the fall and resurrection (anastasis) of many in Israel and as a sign to those who speak against her. A sword will go through your soul so that the thought of many hearts will be exposed.” (Luke 1:34b–35)

Israel had many enemies who wanted her destroyed. Within a few months of this prophecy, Herod would kill many male children in Bethlehem and its vicinity. Unlike all their wishes, Mariam’s baby’s birth would resurrect them and be a warning or sign to those who spoke against Israel. Although the noun can mean “rise” (ana “again” and istimi “set”), in the NT, it (anastasis) referred to the resurrection of people (from which we get the name, Anastacia). The child’s birth would bring about the resurrection of his people.

But how? “A sword will go through your soul” (Luke 1:35b). David often used this imagery of a sword going through one’s soul for death.

“Deliver my soul from ungodly by your sword.” (Ps 17:13) “Deliver my would from the sword of my enemies, the dogs that want my being.” (Ps 22:20) “Wield the sword and brandish the spear against those who pursue me; say to my soul, ‘I am your salvation.’” (Psa 35:3)

YHWH God protected David in those circumstances from death, but he would not do the same for Mariam: “A sword would go through her soul.” She would die. Although this death would be physical someday, much earlier than that, this death would be a separation between her as Jesus’s mother and him as her son. Their biological dependence would terminate. Only then could he expose the hearts of many people (Luke 1:35c).

The Gospels often document this separation between Jesus and Mariam. At a wedding in Cana, the mother wanted him to do something about their lack of wine. But he refused and said, “What’s between you and me?” He did a miracle in his own time (John 2). When Mariam and her other children wanted to see him, he told them his disciples were his family (Matt 12). And, at the cross, he handed her over to his favorite disciple (John 19:26­–27).

Israel’s and the nation’s redemption didn’t come until Jesus’s biological dependence on his mother, Mariam, terminated – a sword pierced her soul. As much as we revere her as the most blessed woman ever, as she was our Lord Jesus’s mother, she, too, needed his death and resurrection.