Loved the post! Keep up the amazing work!

~God Bless!

_Arwengirl

Hello - I "happened" across your blog and have spent some time reading several of your entries. This one stood out to me as one I had to respond to. But first let me say, please take this comment as it is intended - not as an attack on you, but as a respectful defense of what I know to be true.

My main question is "Why Mary?" Why do you see Mary as more important, more holy, than any other biblical person? Much of what you have said about her is true of others. Yes, Mary said and did things that pointed to and honored God. But so did Paul, John, and many other believers all throughout history and even today. Yes, Mary bore the baby Jesus and raised Him as a child. But his earthly father Joseph also raised and taught him. Yes, Mary was indwelt by God for 9 months. But every human being who has accepted Christ as Savior is indwelt by God in the person of the Holy Spirit forever.

You quoted: "When we say 'Mary', she re-echoes 'God'." God's children reflect Him, but Jesus Christ is the only true "echo" and representation of God. (Heb. 1:3, John 1:18, John 14:9)

You said: "Mary's whole purpose is to lead us to Him." Wouldn't it make sense that Mary's whole purpose is the same as the purpose of all human beings - to glorify God? (John 17:4)

You said: "Mary is one of the most beautiful creations of God." Why is she any more beautiful than any other person, whom God created in His image?

You said: "If nature declares God's glory, how much more can Mary?" I agree that God's people can probably declare His glory more than nature, because we have a personal relationship with Him. The Bible says that if the people do not praise Him, then the stones will cry out. So yes, God desires for His people to give Him glory even more than nature. But I do not believe that one person, Mary, glorifies God more than any of His other children. He loves His children equally and takes pleasure in all of us. The Bible very clearly states that God does not show favortism. (Acts 15:9, Rom. 3:21-22)

You said that if we want to know someone better, we should talk to his mother. To an extent, I agree. I could talk to my friend's mom, and she might tell me childhood stories or personal things about my friend that my friend might not have told me or wanted me to know. However, I believe that God wants us to know Him fully, so there wouldn't be anything about His character that He would hide from us. Also, on the other hand, there are more personal, intimate things about my friend that he/she could tell me, that the mother might not even know. Mary was a human being with a sin nature just like us, and there was no way she could fully, perfectly comprehend the character and essence of God, just as we can't.
Finally, going through Mary to know Jesus better does not make any sense to me, because Mary is dead. Yes, I could possibly learn additional things about my friend by talking to his/her mother, but only if the mother was alive. Mary is not alive anymore on the earth, and dead people do not communicate personally. Mary is physically dead; Jesus is alive. Doesn't it make more sense, then, to go straight to Jesus rather than to Mary?
There is no biblical reference that supports going through Mary or any other human being to get closer to God. The only way to know God personally is through Jesus Himself, not through any other human. The teachings and experiences of other humans can help point us to God, but they themselves are not an avenue by which to reach God. Only Jesus is.
"I am the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." John 14:6.

"For when one says, 'I am of Paul,' and another, 'I am of Apollos,' are you not mere men? What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth." 1 Cor. 3:4-7.

Thank you for taking the time to read my comment. Again, please take it as it's intended. I look forward to hearing from you.
Ashley

Ashley,
I suppose it’s better late than never! Here is my response to your comment (finally).

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“My main question is ’Why Mary?’”
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I really don’t know. You would have to ask God. ;-) HE was the One who chose her out of the millions of other women to bear His Son. He singled her out to be Christ’s mother. I honestly can’t tell you why.

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“Why do you see Mary as more important, more holy, than any other biblical person? Yes, Mary said and did things that pointed to and honored God. But so did…many other believers.”
~~~~~

Mary had a huge role in God’s salvation of the world. She was the vessel through which He sent His Son. Jesus didn’t come to earth as an incarnate human being through Paul or Luke or any other biblical person. I like this quote from the Catechism that puts into biblical context what Mary’s role was in salvation history:

“The Father of mercies willed that the Incarnation should be preceded by an assent on the part of the predestined mother, so that just as a woman had a share in the coming of death [Eve], so also should a woman contribute to the coming of life.”

Mary is like the second Eve, just as Christ is the second Adam. Eve didn’t directly cause the fall, but she was a vessel through which disobedience came to mankind. Mary didn’t directly cause salvation, but she was a vessel through which salvation and life came to mankind. That is a very significant role.

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"Yes, Mary was indwelt by God for 9 months. But every human being who has accepted Christ as Savior is indwelt by God in the person of the Holy Spirit forever."
~~~~~

That’s a very good way to look at it. In that case, Mary was the first among all Christians to be indwelt by Jesus. That’s definitely significant. We all follow her in that she has gone before us in faith in God.

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“God's children reflect Him, but Jesus Christ is the only true "echo" and representation of God.”
~~~~~

Jesus is God, and all of His children reflect Him -- including Mary. I definitely agree with you there.

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“Wouldn't it make sense that Mary's whole purpose is the same as the purpose of all human beings - to glorify God? (Jn 17:4)”
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Yes, definitely! All humans exist to glorify God. Our “whole purpose” is for God in every way. When we love others, it is for HIM. When we help others, it is for HIM. When we lead souls to God, that is for HIM. That’s Mary’s purpose as well as ours.

~~~~~
"'Mary is one of the most beautiful creations of God.' Why is she any more beautiful than any other person, whom God created in His image?"
~~~~~

She is so beautiful because she said, “yes” to God, not only at the annunciation, but with her entire life. God made us all beautiful, but not everyone lives up to their full potential of beauty. It’s when we are aligned with God’s will that we are beautiful.

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“You said: ‘If nature declares God's glory, how much more can Mary?’ I agree that God's people can probably declare His glory more than nature, because we have a personal relationship with Him.”
~~~~~

That’s a great point! All humans were made in the image of God, so we reflect His glory more than nature ever can. That should really make us think. I don’t know about you, but some of my closest moments to God have been in admiring His creation in nature. What I don’t understand is how some people are so hesitant to get closer to God by paying attention to and meditating on other humans--like Mary.

For my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done great things; and holy is his name. ~ Luke 1:47-49

All of the generations don’t call her “blessed” because of her, necessarily, but because “he that is mighty hath done great things” through her, and “holy is his name.”

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“But I do not believe that one person, Mary, glorifies God more than any of His other children.”
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I think that C.S. Lewis once said that no human can increase God’s glory more than a prisoner can increase the darkness of his cell by writing “darkness” on the wall. It’s like that with Mary, too. She doesn’t bring God more glory, but she honors Him with what she has. The more that we glorify God, the more we fulfill the purpose of our lives. We believe that Mary glorifies Him in her body and soul to her fullest potential; therefore, she has become exactly what God created her to be.

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“However, I believe that God wants us to know Him fully, so there wouldn't be anything about His character that He would hide from us.”
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No, I don’t believe that God would “hide” anything about Himself, but since He is infinite, we can always be growing in knowledge and love of Him.

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“Finally, going through Mary to know Jesus better does not make any sense to me, because Mary is dead...Doesn't it make more sense, then, to go straight to Jesus rather than to Mary?”
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We don’t believe that Mary is dead. We believe that she is alive in heaven, glorifying God. As Catholics, we believe that those in heaven are aware of what is going on in the Church on earth. They are our “cloud of witnesses.” (Heb 12:1)

Of course, we go straight to Jesus. One can’t have a relationship with someone unless we talk to them. But, as I said earlier, we can also get closer to God through other people. My parents were the ones who led me to Jesus. My pastor continues to help lead me closer to him, as well as my confirmation sponsor, youth pastor, and other Christians in my life. I see Mary as in the same role, except that she’s even closer to God because she has already made it to heaven. I wrote a post about the communion of the saints here if you are interested in reading about it: http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/thecatholicapologist/231687/

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“There is no biblical reference that supports going through Mary or any other human being to get closer to God.”
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And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. ~ Hebrews 6:11-12

Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. ~ 1 Corinthians 4:16-17

Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. ~ Hebrews 13:7

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“The teachings and experiences of other humans can help point us to God, but they themselves are not an avenue by which to reach God. Only Jesus is.”
~~~~~

Jesus is the One who “bridges the gap,” so to speak, between man and God. Neither Mary nor any other human could reconcile us to God, but they can lead us to God. Our parents have lead us to God, our pastors, our teachers, our friends, &c. So, I believe we really agree in this area. I wrote more about this in my post here: http://homeschoolblogger.com/thecatholicapologist/346605/

Asking why we pay so much attention to Mary is like asking why we pay so much attention to George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. They were both great men who played huge roles in the forming of our country. Sure, they were both humans like the rest of us, but through them significant things took place. It's the same with Mary. We CANNOT ignore her role in Christ's salvation of the world.

Thank YOU for taking the time to write your comment. ;) I’m sorry it took me so long to respond. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas!

Happy New Year!
Pax Christi,
~the Catholic apologist

Edited by thecatholicapologist on Jan. 1, 2008 at 10:31 AM

Ummmmm ...Well I'm not a catholic, and I don't beleive that you go through Mary to get the Lord of Hosts at all. She just conceived Him...she has no hold on Him. However I will admit that I admire the detication in you...even if I DON'T agree with the situation.