Will ... an outstanding article. A good reflection on some modern biblical scholarship, plus some cogent questions. It's interesting ... the virginal conception is mentioned only twice in the entire Bible ... in Luke chapter 1 and Matthew chapter 1. (the birth of Jesus is narrated in chapter 2 of both gospels, and if the first chapters did not exist there would be no mention of a virginal conception). the power of Mary's faith ... and of Jesus' compassion for the poor and the socially outcast ... is there regardless. Even in Luke 1, Mary basically says to the angel, "Let it be with me according to your word." She opens her life (and her body!) to be used for God's purposes, believing that God can be trusted. That "Let it be" is about a lot more than biological virginity ... it is about being willing to let one's life be transformed ... at considerable personal risk! ... for God's compassionate purposes to be fulfilled in the world. In that sense Mary is indeed the Mother of all who work for justice and compassion in the world, especially with those who align themselves with those the world would malign or cast out (i.e. minorities of every stripe ... gender, racial, sexual ... Mary ... and Jesus for that matter ... is with us and on our side). To me, the birth story of Jesus is at base a very human one ... a human vulnerable child like any other child ... God's love made flesh. And it's worth noting that Jesus is known throughout as friend of outcasts and sinners. However we speak about Mary ... Jesus' solidarity with all of us ... as human! ... needs to be reclaimed. Thanks for some good thoughts on this Christmas Eve.
Will ... an outstanding article. A good reflection on some modern biblical scholarship, plus some cogent questions. It's interesting ... the virginal conception is mentioned only twice in the entire Bible ... in Luke chapter 1 and Matthew chapter 1. (the birth of Jesus is narrated in chapter 2 of both gospels, and if the first chapters did not exist there would be no mention of a virginal conception). the power of Mary's faith ... and of Jesus' compassion for the poor and the socially outcast ... is there regardless. Even in Luke 1, Mary basically says to the angel, "Let it be with me according to your word." She opens her life (and her body!) to be used for God's purposes, believing that God can be trusted. That "Let it be" is about a lot more than biological virginity ... it is about being willing to let one's life be transformed ... at considerable personal risk! ... for God's compassionate purposes to be fulfilled in the world. In that sense Mary is indeed the Mother of all who work for justice and compassion in the world, especially with those who align themselves with those the world would malign or cast out (i.e. minorities of every stripe ... gender, racial, sexual ... Mary ... and Jesus for that matter ... is with us and on our side). To me, the birth story of Jesus is at base a very human one ... a human vulnerable child like any other child ... God's love made flesh. And it's worth noting that Jesus is known throughout as friend of outcasts and sinners. However we speak about Mary ... Jesus' solidarity with all of us ... as human! ... needs to be reclaimed. Thanks for some good thoughts on this Christmas Eve.
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