Skimming over the Patheos homepage a little bit ago, I stumbled across an article titled "Have a Very MARY Christmas," listed under the Evangelical blog section. I just can't resist a good pun, and curiosity compelled me to read it.
As commonly occurs when any mention of Mariology is made by the latest and greatest in Protestant circles, the first paragraph makes an attempt to cleanly sweep Roman Catholicism off the table, citing the veneration of Mary as making 'too much of her.' However, the author Robert Crosby helpfully points out, others have made far too little of her. He then proceeds to show us how, step by step.
He he.
The Protestant and Catholic notions of worship vary wildly, but I did notice that Sir Robert used the term 'venerate' in his opening paragraph, which was refreshing.
Now, the writer seems like a nice guy. I'm sure he is. Painfully blasé and dismissive of the role of Mary as the Mother of God Incarnate, but had some nice things to say about the Virgin Mother's willingness to obey despite her bewilderment at the angel Gabriel's words, which is better than nuthin', I suppose.
Articles like this still make me a bit uncomfortable - it wasn't long ago, really, when I myself would've been as flippant about the Virgin Mother's function in Christology: the chosen vessel in which God Himself was housed for nine months. It had simply never occurred to me before to consider the implications of God being born of a woman; what that meant, what would be required of the vessel that God would create. Perfection, in a word. Which Mary, due to the immaculate conception, was (and is). Mary is so much more than an example for the rest of us. Were it not for Mary, after all, the Incarnation (i.e. our salvation - so let's take notice) would not have occurred according to God's plan - and there are many biblical figures to admire and emulate, but that can't be said for any of them.
Mary's function within salvation theology is both literal and figurative. She gave us Christ, through the Holy Spirit, reflecting God's power and love through the offering of herself as the medium through which we received God's Son on earth. Everything Mary ever did points to Christ, yes, through her. This does not make Mary a goddess of any sort, no - but she is the one that God chose to be His mother, and we only exist because of our parents. Big deal. Huge.
Considering what that actually means about Mary is...mind-boggling, but can't be ignored, which it so often is. Only a Protestant convert to Catholicism would know how awkward it can be to view Mary in the new light of her role as Christ-carrier. Maybe I'll talk about that in some other post.
Happy New Year, all!
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