"And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of you womb!'" (Luke 1)
George MacDonald writes, "See revelation culminate in Elizabeth and Mary, the mothers of John the Baptist and Jesus. Think how much fitter that it should be so; that they to whom the Word of God comes should be women bred in the dignity of a natural life, and familiarity with the large ways of the earth; women of simple and few wants, without distraction, and with time for reflection-- compelled to reflection, indeed, from the enduring presence of an unsullied consciousness, for wherever there is a humble, thoughtful nature, into that nature the divine consciousness, that is, the Spirit of God, presses as into its own place. Holy women are to be found everywhere, but the prophetess is not so likely to be found in the city as in the hill country."
The fear of "Mariolatry" has kept most Protestants from appreciating the "ways" of God revealed in His choosing a very young girl from "the hill country" to bear, "Emanuel, God with us." It is a common tendency among humans to correct wrongs with other wrongs. Mary has fallen victim to such irrational behavior. Protestants cringe when we here the Catholics recite, "Hail, Mary, mother of God." I think most believe that the, "Hail Mary," is declaring Mary to be God, or even "greater," since she is the mother. Although through Mary the "Word [of God] (Jesus) became flesh," she did not conceived God. "An angel of the Lord appeared to [Joseph] in a dream," to make it clear. "Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit."
Of course Mary is , "blessed...among women"--- just not to be worshipped. Worship is reserved for the One Whom she bore.
Father, in Jesus' Name, You say, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways." Please take the, "not," and, "neither are," out of that. Amen.
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Prophetic news: www.antipasprayerforce.blogspot.com
When 18 year old Peter Torjesen "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
