Mary: Did YOU know...?
This is a combination of a series of Facebook posts I made some time ago:
Did you know...Mary is the greatest woman who ever lived.
The archangel Gabriel and her cousin, St. Elizabeth both confess in Scripture "Blessed art thou among women." She was chosen by God to conceive, enflesh, birth, nurture, and raise "very God of very God, of one essence with the Father!" He who can not be contained condescended to be contained in her womb. She is the first Christian to receive the Savior, and she did so in ways no one else could ever do.
She found favor with the Father, was overshadowed by the Spirit, and gave birth and raised the Son.
(Icon: Our Lady of the Sign, depicting Christ's conception in her womb as she says "May it be done unto me." Her arms are open to us in an invitation to also receive the Savior of our souls.)
Did you know...Mary is the model of a life of faith.
When God's Angel came to her with His amazing message, in faith, Mary responded: "Be it unto me." She said YES. Much like Noah building the Ark, or Abram being called to leave his homeland, and going, Mary's faith is seen in her actions, actions more personal, intimate, and part of her being than any other. Her faith in action is demonstrated again at the wedding in Cana where she glorifies her Son and her God by telling others "Whatever he tells you, do it." This is her example and advice to us all.
(Icon: Wedding at Cana)
Did you know...Mary is the "Mother of God."
This is a tough one for some, but since we confess that Jesus is "true God of true God, of one substance with the Father," that is, Jesus is God, and He was born of Mary, then Mary is the Mother of God or Theotokos.
This title does not mean that she is the progenitor of the un-originiate, eternal Father, or the Spirit Who proceeds, but it confesses the true Godhead of her Son Jesus.
To honor and confess Mary as Mother of God, Theotokos, is to confess and glorify as God, her Son, who is God.
(Icon: Mother of God, Tenderness)
We learned earlier that the Archangel Gabriel (who speaks only what God speaks) calls Mary Blessed among women. We also saw that Saint Elizabeth made the same confession. . Scripture also says that ALL generations will call her blessed. All the Church throughout all of history has done so, until the past few centuries.
Mary is not worshipped. God alone is worshipped. Mary is honored and blessed, she is venerated by the faithful, in accordance with the Scriptures, and, because Christ is our Brother, we honor Mary as our Mother too.
In the language of the Church, borrowed in the Protestant hymn "Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones" (John Athelstan Lurie Riley, 1858-1945) she is called:
"Higher than the Cherubim, More glorious than the Seraphim, Bearer of the eternal Word, Most gracious,"
and she is asked to lead the praises of God.
The earliest record of worship of the Church include such high honors for Mary.
Sadly, in our day, many denominations and people have dogmatically stood against the Word of God in their refusal to bless Mary. May it not be so.
(Icon: The Visitation. Elizabeth, on the right, greets Mary as blessed and the "Mother of my Lord.")
Did you know...Mary's virginity was preserved for the rest of her life.
"Then He brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary which faces toward the east, but it was shut. And the LORD said to me, `This gate shall be shut; it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter by it, because the LORD God of Israel has entered by it; therefore it shall be shut.’ " - Ezekiel 44:1-2.
In the traditional interpretation of this passage, Mary is the temple and Christ is the Prince of Peace. The gate mentioned is seen as a picture of Christ’s passage through the door of Mary’s womb. This opinion was also held by some of the Reformers.
But the Bible says Joseph knew her not *until* Jesus was born, right?
Right. But that doesn't necessarily mean after He was born, anything changed. Jesus said, "I will be with you until the end of the age," but surely, he didn't mean He would leave us in eternity.
But the Bible says Jesus had brothers and sisters, right?
Right. But the word could mean cousins. Also, Lot and Abram were called Brothers, but they were nephew and uncle. Same with Jacob and Laban. Many in the early church taught that the "brothers and sisters" were children of Joseph from a previous wedding and that he was a widower.
Consider the Communion utensils in church: We use a plate and a cup and a pitcher, and other things in the service of the Eucharist. These vessels are set aside for this special purpose, and the "ordinary use" of such things would never be considered. You would not serve pretzels and cola in them. They hold the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Similarly, Joseph, being a faithful Jew looking forward to the advent of the Messiah, it's not too far a stretch, especially after the conversations with angels, that he would not have dared to pursue the ordinary marital activities, but would rather see himself as the guardian of the blessed virgin and her Son.
(Icon: The Nativity of our Lord. Mary, in iconography, is depicted with three stars on her garb, on her shoulders and one on her head, representing her virginity before, during, and after the birth of Christ.)
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