Recently I had attended a prayer meeting at an Orthodox gathering, which indeed was a blessing to me. I was astounded by the depth of their faith and the fervor with which their lips sung praises glorifying our Sweetheart Saviour and all-powerful Lord Jesus Christ.
I felt especially touched that day and inwardly it was God speaking to me in a way that stirred my curiosity. But, somewhere in the middle or towards, I don't quite recollect, the preacher presiding over the meeting spoke of how he disagreed with the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Virgin Mary, beautiful Mother of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Now one thing Jesus has taught me over the years is never to disagree with others especially in matters of faith but to accept others as they are called to and to be at peace to the extent possible. I said nothing but I thought over it and the Holy Spirit helped me taste the root of the doctrine in layman's terms, and that's what this blog is about. I want to share with people across the boundaries of faith as well as with my dear Christian brothers and sisters and, that is, break down the doctrine into a simplified version wherein I elicit readers to ruminate and affirm the solemnity of the matter in the silence of their hearts.
"Immaculate Conception, a Roman Catholic dogma asserts that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was preserved free from the effects of the sin of Adam (usually referred to as “original sin”) from the first instant of her conception."
I have thought about this many a time but to this day I have not been able to humble myself as did the Blessed Virgin Mary and say, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word." (Luke 1:38) in the heart of the torments and suffering I have had to accept which I often do but with a resistant heart. I have always noticed how I resist suffering but I have no choice but to accept and move forward. The human heart is thus. But one must carefully recollect no woman on earth who has ever lived or will be born hereafter will ever respond thus to such an invitation i.e to be a mother in a time without having been wed and that too in a community where she was at risk of being stoned to death and called names and judged without measure and with utter severity. Even if one were to say "Your will be done" it wouldn't take much time for the same person to turn against God and bite His heel, spewing the venom, "Why on earth, would you do this to me, why do I have to suffer like this for bearing your son?
So, clearly Mother Mary is unlike any other woman who has ever lived on this earth; and it is for this reason the angel addressed her as: "Full of Grace". So our Lady was carefully and wonderfully created to be an exceptional vessel and abode of utmost purity so full of grace for our Infant Jesus to complete his term from his conception by the power of the Holy Spirit to his birth in a stable at Bethlehem. Throughout the Holy Scripture, we see her as a silent woman; quiet in spirit always pondering in her heart the word and works of the Mighty One. No one is capable of doing this unless she was without sin. What say, you?
What's more, Mary glorifies God Almighty:
My soul magnifies the Lord
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid;
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed;
Because He who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is His name;
And His mercy is from generation to generation
on those who fear Him.
He has shown might with His arm,
He has scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and has exalted the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich He has sent away empty.
He has given help to Israel, his servant, mindful of His mercy
Even as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity forever.
♥ The Song Of Mary To God ♥ - The Magnificat - Luke 1:46-55
Comments