A Model for the Mother-Child Bond

Sholem Asch, in the passage that follows, provides a scene between the small child, Jesus and his mother. The child is wrestling with the story of Cain and Abel and Mary tries to answer the questions posed by Jesus. The segment in bold (my emphasis) is one that underscores Mary's role as an intercessor, even perhaps as co-redemptrix, on our behalf; and this from a Jewish writer. It is no wonder that Sholem Asch took a lot of heat from his fellow Jews.

***************************************************** 

   “Why,” he asked suddenly, “why did God accept Abel’s sacrifice and reject Cain’s?”

   “God reads the inward thoughts of men,” said Miriam, “and knows His servitors who are pure and contrite of heart and bring their offerings in love and goodwill. And He knows such as sacrifice in greed and hope of preferment. For there are men who have the grace of God and others who walk in darkness, destitute of grace.”

   The boy weighed the words and asked at last: “And what shall they do who have not God’s grace? Are they not to be pitied?”

   “Have you not learned,” Miriam asked in reply, “what the Lord said to Cain? – ‘If thou doest well, Shall you not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door and unto it shall be your desire, but thou shalt rule over it.’ God said this not to Cain alone, tinoki, but to all his descendants who envy their brothers, and, like Cain, wear a wroth and fallen countenance. God says to them – why art thou wroth and why is your countenance fallen? You can counter the sin at your door, for the choice is yours. You can choose the good or the evil. Punish then the evil that lies in your heart and seek to do well.”

   Yeshua pondered this in silence, sighing with finality, said: Emi, do you know what I think? I think God should appoint a helper for those who do not have the Lord’s grace, to take their part before God. These men more than the righteous need a helper, for the righteous have father and mother to take care of them.”

   Then Miriam’s eyes grew moist, and she said, “Tinoki, tinoki, when you grow up you shall be their helper.”

   “No, Emi, not I but you!”

   “Why I tinoki?”

   “Because you have pity for whosoever stands on your threshold, and there is no one can prevail against your tears. When your tears fall God will have compassion for them.”

   “Please, tinoki, I can bear it no more,” She turned her head away so that he would not see her tears.

(from Mary,part 2, chapter V, p.170-171)