[fortheDeclaration]

I believe your answer to be a non-sequitur to your original post about Jesus calling his mother “woman”. Also, it should be very clear to anyone who takes the time to really understand and apply the teachings of Jesus, that His mother was obviously the first to show the way of following Him—from her assent to the message of the angel, and throughout all the “hidden” 30 years of his life with her and Joseph in Nazareth. Please note that she followed him during his public life as well—including being at Cana; also she was along the Way of the Cross and stood at the foot of the Cross. She was in the Upper Room at Pentecost. There is no reason whatsoever to downgrade any part of her presence in the public existence of the Lord. One of the Seven Last Words of the Lord from the Cross were to Mary and to John the Beloved. He gave them to each other and in that more-than-symbolic action He gave her to all of us, and all of us to her.

No one is 'downgrading' her at all.

The Lord Himself placed all believers equal to her and that is clearly stated in scripture.

Now, on the Cross He acted as a faithful elder son and made sure that his mother was going to be cared for.

That is all that action meant at the cross.

There is not symbolism at all.

Now, you would rather ignore what Christ Himself said about Mary in relationship to other believers (Mk.3).

It is you that is placing Mary above where Christ said she ought to be, and disobeying Mary's own words, 'whatsoever he saith unto you, do it'.

But, you would rather make up your own traditions that have nothing to do with scripture than follow either the words of Christ or Mary.

Christ never said to honor Mary above any one else and the last time we see Mary is in Acts 1, and she is not heard of again in scripture.

The Mary of the Roman Catholic Church is not the Mary of the Bible.

[Running On Empty]

You are presumimg to read my mind when you say I’d “rather ignore what Christ Himself said”. You cannot know what I am “ignoring” about Scripture or what I am understanding from Scripture.

Then you go on to say to me; “you would rather make up your own traditions that have nothing to do with scripture”. Can you read my mind?

Please don’t attempt to determine what I am thinking regarding Scripture. This is a matter of what each of us understands and interprets from Scripture. That we have different understanding is clear. What is not at all certain is that you are an authority over my understanding.

So we have reached an impasse. I am, for the record, glad that I have offered my understanding. Your evaluation of it hasn’t done one thing to change my mind.

[Judith Anne]

That is all that action meant at the cross.

There is not symbolism at all.

That would be your private interpretation. I find it interesting that protestants individually pick and choose which statements are symbolic, which are literal, but seem to deny the same privilege to the Catholic Church.

[wmfights]

The Mary of the Roman Catholic Church is not the Mary of the Bible.

I think you're right. The Mary of the RCC has all kinds of supernatural powers none of which can be found in Scripture.

I don't believe Mary truly knew who Jesus was until the Resurrection. She rebuked him in his Father's house when he was a child talking with the Rabbi's. She came with his brothers to take him home when he was beginning his ministry. Yet, when all fled except for John she stayed to the end.