Sunday, May 10, 2009

Happy Mother’s Day

Isn't it interesting that we have this national holiday to recognize mothers, no matter who their offspring turned out to be? Charles Manson had a mother. So did Ted Bundy.

And, as it turns out, so did Jesus of Nazareth. Catholics have raised His mother to an idol. Protestants want to throw her under the bus. Can't we find a middle ground? After all, the Angel thought she was special (Luke 1):

26And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

27To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

28And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

29And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

Well, now: "Highly favored" . . . "Blessed among women". . . "Favor with God". It certainly seems like she would be due at least a little bit of honor. If God thought enough of her to entrust His Only Begotten Son to her and Joseph, we should venerate her at least as much as we do Abraham, David and any of the patriarchs. This is not to say we need to worship her as though she were God, but she was certainly touched by God. Carrying the Holy Child for nine months is at least as impressive as watching God part the Red Sea, wouldn't you say?

So, then… Happy Mother's Day, Mary.

1 comment:

camojack said...

Somehow, I missed this...until now. I was away for awhile, but this was posted before I went.

Anyway, regarding the topic, my 70 year old mother went hiking with me in Georgia last week on the Appalachian Trail. She done good; 20 miles in 2 days...