I ran across a facebook post that read, "
The Queen Mother
By selecting Mary as Jesus' mother, it made her queen. In the Judaic monarchy, the queen was always the mother, not the wife. Although medieval queens are wives to kings, that was not the case when it came to established Judaic monarchy. It's reasonable for protestants today to read that verse with an improper understanding because there is no reliance on tradition to interpret the text.
Intercession of Mary
Intercession has always been a part of Christ's family. It's exemplified by Moses, Jacob, and Samuel specifically in the OT(not to include several other instances) where a righteous chunk of dirt (man) intercedes for Israel and other individuals. Mary witnessed more instances where man disgraced Christ--from his birth in a stable to his shameful death on the cross--than any other person ever to live. Mary understands, and was indeed literally one with Christ(womb). She, for mankind, tells Christ the world is ready for his miracles and then he performs the first at the Wedding of Cana. Christ honors his Mother and Father (God and Mary) under the Mosaic law, and not only names God the father of all those who follow him, but declares that every generation shall call Mary blessed (Luke 1:48). Are any Protestants shouting that out?
Mary the Spiritual Mother
Furthermore, because Christ removes Mary's original sin prior to her conception in the womb, she is the first Christian. Mary, like the Church, is the spiritual Mother to all. There is a Spotless Bride in Revelations, a similarity that is striking between the ever-virgin, Mary, and the Church. Mary was mother to the head--Christ--while the Church is mother to the mystical body of Christ--the members. The two complete the embodiment of Christ as we become one with him. Her love, charity, and faithfulness project every characteristic the Church must exemplify.
Mary, our New Eve
There is even greater resemblance to the creation story. Jesus is the New Adam. He stands up to Satan, whereas Adam stands by and watches as Eve is tempted. Mary is the New Eve. Mary, who is spotless,and the Church, which is everlasting--both crush the head of the snake. Irenaeus wrote in Against Heresies, Book III Chapter 22, "“And thus also it was that the knot of Eve's disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. For what the virgin Eve had bound fast through unbelief, this did the virgin Mary set free through faith.” The importance that Mary as the New Eve was freed from sin. As Eve took the Fruit of sin from the tree, Mary took the fruit of her womb and allowed it to be placed back upon the tree (cross).
Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant
Mary is also the Ark of the New Covenant. The Old Covenant was preserved in the Ark for the Covenant, "Within the tabernacle he was to place an ark made of acacia wood covered with gold inside and out. Within the Ark of the Covenant was placed a golden jar holding the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant" ( Heb. 9:4) and, "When the ark was completed, the glory cloud of the Lord (the Shekinah Glory) covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle" (Ex. 40:34–35). Here we see the beautiful symbolic nature of the bible. The outside and inside of Mary were made of gold because she did not sin in life and was cleansed of original sin by Jesus prior to her birth. There was gold in the Ark--the symbol of the Royalty in Mary. There was manna in the ark that kept the Jews alive in the wilderness--Jesus is the living manna (John 6) that gives all Christians life through the Eucharist. In the Ark is Aaron's rod, which is proof of a true priesthood. In Mary is the true priest. In the Ark were Moses's tablets with the Word inscribed on stone. In Mary was the Word of God made flesh. When Mary was 14, and became a woman of-age, the glory cloud of God covered her and blessed her womb with Christ.
In Samuel we see many parallels with the story of Elizabeth told in John. David, "How can the Ark of the Lord come to me?" v. Elizabeth, "And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" David then left the Ark in hill country for 3 months (1 Sam. 6). Elizabeth happened to live in the same "hill country". When David saw the ark he jumped and danced. When Elizabeth saw Mary, the baby in her womb began to dance. Interestingly enough David and John were of the priestly line of Aaron. David then takes the Ark to Jerusalem--Mary returns to Jerusalem.
Chapter 11 of Revelations reads, "Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple." It's important to note that John didn't write the book in chapters. His next line was, "And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child." The Ark of the Covenant that is revealed IS Mary. Just examine how the Jews treated the Ark of the Covenant to discern how Christians ought to treat and venerate the Ark of the New Covenant through Christ.
Mary as the Temple Gates
John 2:21 establishes Christ as the tempble. Early Christians often saw a parallel between Ez 44:1-2 and Mary. It says, "Then the man brought me back to the outer gate of the sanctuary, the one facing east, and it was shut. The LORD said to me, "This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it. It is to remain shut because the LORD, the God of Israel, has entered through it." Mary serves as the temple gates for Christ. She was reserved for Christ. She was to remain "shut" because the LORD entered the world through her.
This is How Early Christians Approached Mary:
Gregory the Wonder Worker (c. 213–c. 270) wrote: "Let us chant the melody that has been taught us by the inspired harp of David, and say, ‘Arise, O Lord, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy sanctuary.’ For the Holy Virgin is in truth an ark, wrought with gold both within and without, that has received the whole treasury of the sanctuary" (Homily on the Annunciation to the Holy Virgin Mary).
Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 296–373) was the main defender of the deity of Christ against the second-century heretics. He wrote: "O noble Virgin, truly you are greater than any other greatness. For who is your equal in greatness, O dwelling place of God the Word? To whom among all creatures shall I compare you, O Virgin? You are greater than them all O [Ark of the] Covenant, clothed with purity instead of gold! You are the ark in which is found the golden vessel containing the true manna, that is, the flesh in which divinity resides" (Homily of the Papyrus of Turin).
Mary was already married when she conceives Jesus
The explicit and implicit symbolism is a beauty of the Truth of God.
In Charity,
Brock Smith
The common assumption that you fail to provide a detailed argument for is that Mary was indeed without sin. Why then, should I believe that Mary was without sin?
ReplyDeleteBecause, adeck, following the obvious stream of thought that Luke presents (i.e. Mary as the ark of the New Covenant), we realize that the ark was gold both inside and out. And so our spiritual mother, Mary, is gold, both inside and out.
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