Women, Mother's,and men. .How do look upon the life of Mary the Mother of our Lord.as she sufferd with our lord in given birth, Pained in watching her son die,on the cross,How does her life relate to your's as a Women, and Mother.??
I cant answer your question directly, I just hope this doesnt turn into a debate about the Catholic view of Mary.Krispy
As a mother, I cannot imagine the anguish that Mary must have felt on that day, even knowing what her son's purpose was. If my child, stumbles and scrapes his knee, my heart breaks for his pain. I don't know what it would be like to watch my son be tortured and killed before my eyes. I pray that I never will.
This should be up lifting, eye opening in our every day life.what a honor for women.That God chose a speical woman to love and take care for our lord.Their is a real human side to this story that only a Mother will ever know.
Women, Mother's,and men. .How do look upon the life of Mary the Mother of our Lord.as she sufferd with our lord in given birth, Pained in watching her son die,on the cross,How does her life relate to your's as a Women, and Mother.??Her life relates to us just as many of the lives of other faithful women in the Bible relate to us (Hannah and Ruth come to mind). They are great examples to encourage us in our walk. I think that many Protestants over-react to anything Catholic and therefore anything "Mary" is avoided. It's a shame really because Scripture does call her blessed among women and her faith is truly inspiring.I see from your profile that you are of the Eastern Orthodox persuasion which I believe may over-react in the other direction towards Mary. I believe they are not on Scriptural ground when worshipping and praying to Mary. Also, I believe it causes one to lose focus of the only wonderful One, our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus alone is our Redeemer, Mediator and Intercessor, our all.In Christ,Ron
Ron!... I enjoy your thoughts.YES Scripture does call here blessed among women,also Jesus said in her behalf,Blessed are those who hear the word of God and do It. that say's a lot. there is so much to learn from those who hear the word of God and do it. Ron!
In 'essence' we're all pregnant with Christ, at our new birth.Gal 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be 'formed in you'.We're not suddenly delivering the fullness of Christ manifested ... but He grows in us as we make the room. As we decrease, He increases, as they say.When we're newly born again, we feel that, yet new twinkle inside, as the happy mommy-to-be feels that new feeling that lets her know there is New Life in her.She progresses in her 'carrying' and the marvel at what is IN her becomes more real, as now she is 'seeing' signs of True Life within.Her tastes begin to change. Her outlook on life begins to change and her thoughts become increasingly toward this new life growing within her and her recognition that it is a HE and not an IT.Her thoughts go forward to spending the rest of her life FOR this one, who's life she now holds inside her and has such moments of awe, that she actually carries the Life of Another within.From that point on ... everything she looks at, 'includes' this life within.She looks at the trees, the flowers, birds, and so on and includes him in her thoughts as enjoying these things 'with' her.Her ultimate joy is yet to come and that is what keeps her forbearing all the discomforts and hardships that occur during this time of carrying him within.Her eyes are on the Day when she'll be fully formed or he in her and they will exchange their love face to face.So, yes I can see us pregnant with Christ in that sense of the wonder of it all.Thanks GQ.
Meagain, wow,I can relate to that.You put those words as only a loving Mother could.That is very Inspireing,Thankyou!!!!!!,very breath taking.
Greenquality, thank you for introducing this topic. There is so much to glean from Mary's experience. I will add a few other thoughts: Mary was an unmarried teen when she got pregnant with Jesus. Think of the shaming she must have endured from villagers. Think of their likely reaction if she had tried to convince them of a Holy Spirit conception. They would have thought she was crazy. According to Jewish Law, she should have been stoned for her 'sin'.Mary did not get angry with God for putting her in such a shameful predicament. Instead, she understood God's plan and joyfully submitted, saying, "…the Mighty One has done great things for me." Lk. 1:49 She would not have share her joy with very many people because they would not have understood; however, instead "she treasured these things and pondered them in her heart." Lk. 2:19 She gave others no power over her to shame her. Instead, she trusted in the Lord for he sense of worth and rejoiced in him.Then thirty-three years later, she endured excruciating pain in her soul, while her Jewish peers were shouting, "Crucify him!" How her heart must have ached! After all, that was her oldest son whom they wanted to exterminate. God did not protect Jesus from being shamed, and neither his mother, just as Simeon had prophesied to her: "A sword will pierce your own soul too." Lk. 2:35 Nevertheless, both Jesus, through his perfect submission was highly esteemed by his heavenly Father. Mary certainly had nothing to be ashamed about - at least, in the eyes of God.Unwed MothersMothers who conceive a child out of wedlock can live with intense shame and guilt for the rest of their lives. It is something that they would rather hide - especially from those who might judge and reject them. The presence of their child may quite possibly be a constant reminder of their shame.Sometimes unwed mothers have shared with me their intense shame that they tried to hide for years. They do not wish to talk about it - especially in church where they risked rejection.They need to look to the Lord who alone can cover their shame and restore them to fellowship with him. It their church extends mercy to them rather than condemnation, they will receive a taste of God's forgiveness and mercy. We must believe that he is able to fully forgive them and set them free from guilt and shame. In fact, God may possibly have chosen to display his glory (ie. his mercy) through both mother and child.To the extent that people have experienced God's mercy in their own lives, they will extend mercy to others who suffer shame.Bathsheba:Bathsheba bore David a child after an adulterous episode. Tragically this child died soon after birth as a result of God's judgment. However, God did not condemn Bathsheba to a life of shame and disgrace. He did not punish her by closing her womb. Instead he enabled her to bare a very important son, Solomon. "The Lord loved him…" 2 Sam. 12:24 and raised him up to be the next king of Israel - the very one who would build a splendid temple for the Lord. During that time, Bathsheba was exalted to the prestigious position of Queen Mother. What a precious picture of God's mercy towards her! He covered her shame, and shone his glory upon her.Diane
MeAgain, I was very blessed by this analogy of the Christ-Child in Mary's womb to the spiritual relationship we have to christ - Christ within us. This is what it is like when we are truly birthed from above - by the Spirit: Her tastes begin to change. Her outlook on life begins to change and her thoughts become increasingly toward this new life growing within her and her recognition that it is a HE and not an IT.Her thoughts go forward to spending the rest of her life FOR this one, who's life she now holds inside her and has such moments of awe, that she actually carries the Life of Another within.From that point on ... everything she looks at, 'includes' this life within.She looks at the trees, the flowers, birds, and so on and includes him in her thoughts as enjoying these things 'with' her.Her ultimate joy is yet to come and that is what keeps her forbearing all the discomforts and hardships that occur during this time of carrying him within.Her eyes are on the Day when she'll be fully formed or he in her and they will exchange their love face to face.Diane
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