But Mary is more than that, my dear sister in Christ. And none of us could ever be what she is: She is absolutely unique in human and spiritual history. Let me -- an "unchurched" Catholic (in the institutional sense) -- try to explain what the Spirit of God has enabled me to see regarding Mary.
For openers, I realize that the Reformed Church generally tends to deemphasize Mary the Mother of God, almost at times to the point of contempt. In Catholic theology, she is held in the utmost esteem -- not as a "goddess" to be worshipped, but simply as the Mother of God, and thus, the Mother of the Christian Church. And there are at least three reasons for this.
(1), the fact that the incarnated Jesus Christ is of the "seed of Abraham," and of the royal House of David, comes only through Mary -- for that is her own heritage. In short, Mary is the very nexus between the Old and New Testaments. Christ came to fulfill the Law of Israel. Mary made this concretely possible.
(2), Catholics do not worship Mary as a goddess, but as their spiritual Mother. She is recognized as a mortal human being, though a profoundly sanctified and holy one, divinely appointed and prepared for her role in divine history from the very beginning of the world. Neither do Catholics speak of the holy mother as "Saint Mary." She is superior to all the saints of the Church, and I imagine to the order of the angels, and venerated as such.
(3), She it was who could say to God, "I am the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to Thy Word." She is the model of perfected human purity: She emptied herself of all mortal aims and purposes other than to magnify the Lord, and to do His will. In this, she was "perfect" in execution throughout her life: there was never any iota of personal selfishness in the conduct of her life: She lived for her Son, and stood at the Foot of the Cross when the rest of the world seemingly abandoned him to His ignominious and shameful death. She never left His side.
And Jesus Himself, in the throes of an excruciating mortal death on the Cross, proclaimed to the beloved Apostle John, "Behold, thy mother." By this he did not mean, "Hey, John -- take care of Mom for me, 'cause I'm out of here" (so to speak); Christ Himself here proclaimed his intent that Mary be the Mother of the Church -- spiritual and institutional -- that our Lord founded in this world.
In these remarks, I do not at all mean to rebuke or "correct" you in any way; just to give you a theme for meditation, if you desire to take it up.
May God ever bless you, dear sister in Christ.
I affirm that Mary was the chosen (prepared, consecrated) woman through whom Messiah, the Son of David came--He who had been promised to the first woman, Eve. Every woman in all of Israel's history knew such a woman would be chosen, but not when, and few knew how. This is Mary's exaltation and singular honor. It was also her exclusive, unique, and very heavy burden.
God Himself made this concretely possible--He alone is the Potter, we the vessels, prepared for His Purposes:
[F]or the Mighty One has done great things for me—I am sorry that Mary is "deemphasized almost at times to the point of contempt." This should not be, and would not be (in the balance of the created order) were she not in other regards esteemed as "Coredemptress," "Mother of God," or "Queen of Heaven."
holy is his name.
Mary's testimony, Luke 1:49
Mary is the very nexus between the Old and New Testaments.
I see Jesus bestowing this honor on John the baptizer in the Gospel of Matthew and also in Mark.
She is the model of perfected human purity: She emptied herself of all mortal aims and purposes other than to magnify the Lord, and to do His will....She never left His side.
As honored among women as she was, Mary also stumbled on the Rock of Offense:
Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you."By this he did not mean, "Hey, John -- take care of Mom for me, 'cause I'm out of here""Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked.
Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."
Mark 3:31-35 (also related in Matthew and Luke)
The verses in John 19:26-27 read:
When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!Because "behold thy mother" is followed by "from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home," I conclude just what you deny.Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
Perhaps this will always be so. May the One God Who Is Father of All lead both you and I into perfect understanding. May our reverent interpretation of sacred things not lead to the abandonment of the most sacred which is love. Amen.