Come..."see"...and let us adore Him with Mary!

[MariaChristi]

Dear All,

Perhaps some missed the point I was trying to make yesterday, when I posted my thread “Come and you will see”, but if you re-read the OP. I hope you will see the significance of my emphasizing a phrase we might ponder:

…They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary His mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Mt 2: 10-11)

The magi – whom we’ll recall this Sunday, experienced an “Epiphany” (defined as a revelation or insight): “they saw the Child with Mary His Mother.” The Holy Spirit is the primary Author of Scripture and I believe He wants us to ponder the Truth of God’s Plan to be born of Mary. There is so much for all of us to ponder here, and especially Catholics who may have become less devoted to Mary – as St. JPII pointed out in 1982:

…Where the Mother is, there too is the Son. When one moves away from the Mother, sooner or later he ends up keeping distant from the Son as well. It is no wonder that today, in various sectors of secularised society, we note a widespread crisis of faith in God, preceded by a drop in devotion to the Virgin Mother…

Today’s Gospel from John continues to give us the phrase “Come and see” but now words come from one disciple to another. How beautiful is that! Yesterday, we heard Jesus say “Come and you will see” to the two disciples who asked Him where He was staying. They followed and I believe they began to see what the magi saw. Jesus had asked the disciples what they were looking for, and so I invited readers to ask themselves, as I asked myself “What am I looking for?”

As I read today’s Gospel I was blessed again in “seeing” by faith, God’s revelation of Truth. We cannot fully understand Jesus without Mary, His human Mother, full of grace. We need to be docile as Mary to the Holy Spirit and learn as Mary did pondering in our hearts, all Jesus said and did. Words are important in scripture and we need to be looking for God’s revelation, or we’ll miss what He invites us to become. The disciples “remained” with Jesus; He continued to tell them: “Remain in Me” (cf John 15). Mary is Mother and Model for the Church and by God’s Grace, we can remain in Him more surely hearing deep within our hearts and minds, His words from the Cross: “Behold your Mother”. By His grace may we, like the magi, adore Him and give Him all we have through Mary, His Mother and ours.

 

[fide]

The linking of the infant Jesus here “with Mary His mother” is certainly an affirmation in divine revelation that calls us to ponder, to pray, to listen. In this time in American Christianity we see an exerted bias toward increasing de-emphasis of Mary’s place in the Gospel - an increasing minimization of her importance, her relevance to us today.

The Church officially teaches that this ought not be. Even this one passage, set off by itself, ought to draw us to meditate more deeply on the link, the connection, the bond of the Savior and His mother. If the sacred human author wrote this, inspired by the Holy Spirit, as we are to believe, then God wants us to hear it as written! The Catechism says (bold added for emphasis):

106 God inspired the human authors of the sacred books. “To compose the sacred books, God chose certain men who, all the while he employed them in this task, made full use of their own faculties and powers so that, though he acted in them and by them, it was as true authors that they consigned to writing whatever he wanted written, and no more.” (DV 11)

107 The inspired books teach the truth. “Since therefore all that the inspired authors or sacred writers affirm should be regarded as affirmed by the Holy Spirit, we must acknowledge that the books of Scripture firmly, faithfully, and without error teach that truth which God, for the sake of our salvation, wished to see confided to the Sacred Scriptures.” (DV 11)

Did Matthew “just add this about Mary because he thought it would add ‘human interest’”? Was he “balancing” divine inspiration with his own personal touch? Absolutely NO! All the inspired authors, Matthew included, wrote what the Holy Spirit wanted written, “and no more.” Whenever God says something, we owe Him an attentive ear, an obedient and submissive heart.

What does this assertion mean, especially to a culture that seems increasingly self-referencing - that even among Christians, “It’s all about Jesus and Me”? That Question is worth pondering.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear fide,

Thanks so much for your reply and your further emphasis on “listening” to the Scripture to learn from the Holy Spirit. The unique bond of the Savior and His Mother does need to be pondered more, as well as the unique bond of the Holy Spirit and Mary.

Thanks also for quoting the Catechism, paragraph 106, which is so Important. As you said in your reply:

All the inspired authors, Matthew included, wrote what the Holy Spirit wanted written, “and no more.” Whenever God says something, we owe Him an attentive ear, an obedient and submissive heart.

 

[NuclearReceptor]

Sometimes I wish there was more written about the Immaculate Virgin in the Gospel so that the Protestants at least would have no excuse not to venerate and honor her. Or at least stop accusing us of Mariolatry. But God’s Will be done.

 

[MichaelP3]

But there wasn’t, considering the Catholic importance to it?

In all honesty I agree it would have eliminated many issues.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear NuclearReceptor,

Actually I believe there is much more than most take time to read or research. My husband and I have participated in some areas on another forum where we consistently have non Catholics who have “read much” but … no matter how many verses of Scripture are presented, they are so convinced of “Sola Scriptura” they will not listen to centuries of solid teaching from Tradition and the Magisterium, that I’m convinced there are some who prefer darkness.

Prayer and patience is needed in our loving concern for them. I never give up on anyone as long as they are breathing. Seriously, every soul is important – Jesus died for every soul. Mary is our Mother and Model and I am sure she is interceding for all of us, and in the end her Immaculate Heart will triumph.

For your own growth in appreciating the Immaculate Conception and the Holy Spirit there is an excellent book written on the writings of St. Maximillian Kolbe you might read; see HERE

 

[yankeesouth]

Being that Jesus gave the Church He founded the power of binding and loosing should be enough. As we know the Catholic Church was founded by Christ before the bible came to be, in fact the Church used that power it was given to give us the bible. Unfortunately protestants either pridefully give themselves aurthority or are taught that.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear Michael,

You may want to read my reply to NuclearReactor as well as my reply to you. I’m grateful to both of you for your replies. I’m also grateful to fide who helped us by posting from the Catechism, paragraph 106 - 107:

106 God inspired the human authors of the sacred books. “To compose the sacred books, God chose certain men who, all the while he employed them in this task, made full use of their own faculties and powers so that, though He acted in them and by them, it was as true authors that they consigned to writing whatever he wanted written, and no more.” (DV 11)

107 The inspired books teach the truth. “Since therefore all that the inspired authors or sacred writers affirm should be regarded as affirmed by the Holy Spirit, we must acknowledge that the books of Scripture firmly, faithfully, and without error teach that truth which God, for the sake of our salvation, wished to see confided to the Sacred Scriptures.” (DV 11)

God in His Wisdom, founded a Church, to interpret the Scripture and also sent His Holy Spirit to the Church to guide her also into the fullness of His Revelation, primarily through His Word in Scripture but also through Tradition and the Magisterium. St. John the Apostle admits that not all the books in the world could contain everything Jesus said and did. The Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit to be another Advocate to bring us into all Truth, He continues to guide the Church and the Church continues to learn more about Mary.

Sadly, issues arise with those who prefer darkness to light, it seems, or with those who have ears but cannot hear. Jesus experienced this and so must we until He comes again. Let us pray for all those in most need of God’s Mercy, including ourselves who have so much more to learn.

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks yankeesouth for your reply. Yes it is good to remember that the Church came before the Bible, and Christ gave His Church the authority she needed to continue His Mission. We need to pray for all our separated brothers and sisters. Only God knows the depth of each heart and what continues to keep us all from being One in Him as Jesus prayed in John’s Gospel, chapter 17.

God’s Grace enabling us to pray and to live holy lives, may Christ’s Light shine through us in this dark world, as it shines through our Mother Mary. Today is the First Saturday of the Month on which we are asked to offer reparation to her Immaculate Heart. Even if we cannot participate at Mass or receive Holy Communion today, let us take time before the Christmas crib in our homes and/or in our Church to pray the Joyful Mysteries “keeping our Mother company”.