Luke 1:26-56
Perhaps some of you might have heard the next story somewhere before...
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you."
29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
34"How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
35The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. 37For nothing is impossible with God."
38"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to me as you have said." Then the angel left her.
Mary Visits Elizabeth
39At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"
Mary's Song
46And Mary said:
"My soul glorifies the Lord
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
50His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
53He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
55to Abraham and his descendants forever,
even as he said to our fathers."
56Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.
-------------
So now it's Mary that gets a visit from an angel of God. She's a bit confused at the greeting, because it's not everyday that an angel tells you that you are highly favored by God. If Elizabeth's visit from an angel was "out of her comfort zone," imagine being much younger (likely a teenager), and told that you are going to give birth to the "Son of the Most High."
Plus, she was a virgin, and being told you are going to get pregnant as a virgin was probably a shocking bit of news. I should also point out that the text "the Holy Spirit will come upon you" was probably more sexual in tone back then... As strange as that might sound, to be impregnated by the Holy Spirit.
So Elizabeth, a relative of Mary's (maybe aunt, or cousin, we don't know for sure), is already six months pregnant, and now Mary finds out she's gonna be popping a kid out, too. Mary is a good woman, and she seems to be completely willing to serve her God in this way. Mary goes to visit Elizabeth, and Elizabeth's baby does some gymnastics in her womb when Mary arrives. So you've got this old lady, wife of a priest, pregnant with a baby. And she's exclaiming how blessed she is to have her young, perhaps newly pregnant niece in her presence.
So then Mary sings a song. Or a poem. Or something really well-worded. Whatever you want to call it. Her praise to God really sounds very similar to some of David's prose from the Old Testament book of Psalms, which is a pretty common thing for Jews of that time period, I believe. There's probably something deeper or more thought-provoking that could be said about that part, but I'm afraid I don't have my notes with me.
What am I talking about, I don't have any notes at all.
Last thing: I also notice that if Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months, and Elizabeth had been six months pregnant, then she'd be giving birth to John right around the time Mary returned home.
So this whole thing is the "immaculate conception" passage. I suppose Catholics draw a lot of their reverance for Mary from scripture like this. And perhaps it's justified, as you have to admit that's a pretty lofty burden for a single young woman to bear.
posted by FTN @ 4:00 PM
9 comments
9 Comments:
Actually, this is NOT the "immaculate conception" passage, as the phrase "immaculate conception" refers to the conception of Mary from her parents in an "immaculate" state, i.e., without original sin. This is the passage that describes Mary's virgin conception leading to the virgin birth. There is no "immaculate conception" passage, as that is an extra-Biblical idea with no scriptural backing.
As for the song in there, this is probably a piece of early liturgical material that Luke is ascribing to Mary. Taking a general song of praise for our Lord and making it personal for her.
FTN made one of the classic blunders. The oldest of which, is never get involved in a land war in Asia. Only slightly less well known is this -- the Immaculate Conception is different from the virgin conception.
I knew that, I'm sure I had heard it before... Apparently it just slipped my mind and I typed the wrong phrase. But I think most people knew what I meant, since just about everyone (even many Catholics, I'm sure) gets that wrong. My mistake, though. Thanks for pointing it out.
I believe in the virgin conception. The actual idea of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, I do not. As you said, it really has no scriptural backing. But I really didn't mean to get into that in my post at all.
Not that I'm averse to discussing it, if anyone else wishes.
You (and me, too) have a WHOLE lot of Catholics in your readership, so it would probably be best to let it drop. Suffice it to say that both Mary and Joseph were good, faithful children of Israel. That Mary may not have been sinless, but one cannot deny that she is certainly an example to be held up for everyone. She was given an amazing responsibility with no small burden on herself and her answer was, "I am the Lord's servant, may it be to me as you have said." One can certainly say that among a corrupt and decadent humanity, she and she alone was chosen for this, and she was chosen for a reason. David didn't have to be perfect to be called "a man after God's own heart" and to be chosen of all Israel to be king and progenitor of Christ. Noah didn't have to be perfect to "find favor in the eyes of God" among all men on earth. Job didn't have to be perfect for God to say of him, "There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
Similarly, one doesn't have to believe Mary is perfect to believe that she was chosen for her righteousness of all women in Israel, so those of us who do NOT believe in her perfection have no excuse NOT to honor her. That she is a great example to us all.
And certainly her claim in her song that "From now on all generations will call me blessed," has been true. Luke almost certainly wrote that passage after her death, and he wouldn't have written it if it wasn't already true in the church in his time. She was blessed. She was righteous. Thank God for her and her example to us, and, of course, of her willingness to do what God asked and to be a part of bringing our redeemer to earth.
I think it is important to note that Jesus was (obviously) held in highest favor in the eyes of God; however, it was Jesus who suffered the most.
Therefore, I extrapolate from this that God was choosing those not so much with "perfection" in mind (for lack of a better word), but rather fortitude.
~~~Surfie~~~
God has definitely called some very IMperfect people to do his work, that's for sure.
Catholics aren't always bound to scripture in the same way that other Christian religions are. CH talks about Immaculate Conception of Mary without scriptural backing, which is true - but it is part of the Catholic tradition that has been passed down orally since the time of the Apostles.
Mary's story and role in Catholcism is rather interesting. She is not worshiped as outsiders sometimes believe. She is not prayed to per se, but rather she can be invoked, as any other saint can be, to intercede with God on our behalf, much like you would ask a friend to pray for you or a loved one. The "Hail Mary" isn't a prayer... the first part is a quote from scripture that says, hey Mary, you are great, the second is a plea for her intersession with God on our behalf.
Kind of a tangent, sorry - but we agree at any rate that sinless or not, Mary is chosen to carry quite a burden.
I have definitely noticed in the discussions I have with Catholics that they are much more focused on the traditions of the church. As opposed to my viewpoints, which lean more heavily on scripture. I think the church is quite fallible, and I have a fair amount of doubt and skepticism concerning the bureaucracies and politics of most churches.
Plus, I've always belonged to churches or denominations that don't really "report" to a higher earthly authority (quite the opposite of the structure of Catholic churches).
Anyway, I'm off the subject of Mary as the mother of Jesus. You are right, she was chosen for a reason, and God obviously knew what he was doing.
The "hail Mary" thing is probably overused in Hollywood movies, I assume (and by old women in rocking chairs?). Are a number of those really suggested by priests at confession?
The idea of the Immaculate Conception doesn't pre-date the 9th century, wasn't accepted by any serious theologians before the 13th, and wasn't offical RCC dogma until the 19th. Augustine didn't hold any ideas anywhere close to this, nor did any of the Fathers. Aquinas rejected it out right as did Bonaventure and others. It is not just extra-Biblical, but anti-Biblical as it explicitly contradicts several scriptures, most notably Paul's entire discussion in Romans 3 and Christ's statement about John in Luke 7. Second, Mary isn't "worshipped" only in the sense of the distinction between hyperdulia and latria, a fine distinction which reeks of self-justification. A rose by any other name and all that. When you pray to someone for help, salvation, and forgiveness you are worshiping them. OT worship = Calling on the Name of the Lord, NT worship = Calling on the Name of Jesus Christ. Whose name do you call on? Examining the ritual of the rosary is illustrative: 21 prayers to the Father, 21 "Glory Be"s giving glory to the Trinity, 203 prayers to Mary.
As it was explained to me, there is no "prayer" to Mary or any other saint. It is asking someone who is no longer alive to pray FOR you or intercede with God on your behalf. Which I understand Protestant Christians also have a problem with. But a "prayer" (for lack of better world) to Mary or another in the communion of saints isn't supposed to be worship - it's supposed to be no different than asking a friend or family member to pray for you or another person in need.
And no, I've never personally been told to say a rosary, hail mary or anything like that as pennance. At least not as an adult.
Post a Comment
<< Home