THE UNIQUENESS OF MARY AS THE MOTHER OF GOD
Gen. 3:15 - God gives Mary a unique role in
salvation history. The phrase "Her seed" (spermatos) is not
seen elsewhere in Scripture.
Gen 3:15 / Rev. 12:1 - Scriptures begin and end
with the woman battling Satan. Adam and Eve / Jesus and Mary.
John 2:4, 19:26 - Jesus calls Mary
"woman" as she is called in Gen. 3:15. This woman's seed will
crush the serpent's skull.
Isaiah 7:14 - prophecy of Jesus and Mary (the
"enmity" and the "woman"). The new Adam and the new
Eve. Parthenos = virgin.
Isaiah 7:14; Matt. 1:23 - virgin will bear a Son
named Emmanuel = "God is with us."
John 1:14 - God in flesh dwelt among us.
Matt. 2:11 - Luke emphasizes Jesus is with Mary His
Mother, and the magi fall down before both, worshiping Jesus.
Luke 1:35 - the child will be called holy, the Son
of God. Mary is the Mother of the Son of God, or the Mother of God (the
"Theotokos").
Luke 1:28 - Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is
with you. These are words spoken by God and delivered to us by the
angel. Thus, reciting the Rosary means repeating God's words.
Luke 1:28 - "full of grace" (kecharitomene)
is a unique title, and suggests a perfection of grace from a past event.
Mary is not just "highly favored." She is perfected by God.
"Full of grace" is only used to describe one other person -
Jesus Christ in John 1:14.
Luke 1:38 - "let it be done to me according to
thy word" = Mary's fiat. Mary is the perfect model of faith in God,
and is worthy of veneration.
Luke 1:42 - Blessed are you among women, and
blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Catholics repeat these words
in the Rosary.
Luke 1:42 - Blessed are you among women = most
blessed of all women. A circumlocution is used because there is no
superlative in the Greek language.
Luke 1:42 - Elizabeth praises Mary first, and then
Jesus. This is hyperdulia. We too can go through Mary to praise Jesus.
Luke 1:43 - Mother of my Lord = Holy Mary, Mother
of God. Jesus = divine person = God = Mary is the mother of God.
Luke 1:44 - Mary's voice causes John the Baptist to
leap for joy in Elizabeth's womb. She is our powerful intercessor.
Luke 1:46 - Mary claims her soul magnifies the
Lord. This is a bold statement about her uniqueness. She also magnifies
our prayers.
Luke 1:48 - Mary prophesies that all generations
shall call her blessed, as Catholics do in the "Hail Mary"
prayer.
Gal. 4:4 - God sent His Son, born of a woman, to
redeem us. Mary is the woman with the redeemer. Co = cum = with / co-redemptrix
= woman with the redeemer. Mary had a unique but subordinate role in salvation.
Eph. 1:1; Phil. 1:1; Col. 1:2 - saints (Hebrew
"qaddiysh") = "holy" ones. So Mary is called Holy,
as the greatest Saint of all.
Luke 2:35 - Simeon prophecies that a sword would
also pierce Mary's soul. Mary thus plays a subordinate role in our
redemption.
Luke 2:19,51 - Mary kept in mind all these things
pondering them in her heart. Catholics are thus devoted to her
Immaculate Heart.
(Source: www.scripturecatholic.com)
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