Luke 1:30-33 “The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.” vss. 30-31
As Luke began to put together his account of the life of Jesus he discovered that people were curious about his origins. All agreed that he was a Jew but little was known about his heritage, except that he was from Nazareth. He had burst on the scene in what was for those times middle age. Of course there came to be a number of origin stories to choose from, and one of the most popular put the spotlight on Mary, and that’s the one that Luke used! In time Mary became a significant figure in the life of the growing Church, and in some places a venerated and adored object of worship! All over the world we see churches erected in her honor and statues of her in almost every sanctuary. This is no accident! God cannot be limited to male descriptions and names–God is more inclusive than that, and humans had to find a way to give expression to God’s feminine side–and Mary fit the bill! Luke doesn’t describe her as having special powers–she’s an ordinary person, but she had found favor with God, and in her God became incarnate just as surely as in Jesus. Many have said that it’s in her that they have found their way to the tender heart of God, and in her they have experienced deep mercy and peace.
Thought for the Day: Why do some pray to Mary?
0 Comments