Theory and the Assumption of Mary

Introduction

The controversial statements of non believers has initiated number of theories regarding Mary and her virgin birth. We can ponder all the things written in the creeds so in our doubting times we can recall the experience and faith of the whole church. Mary, however, was a pioneer on the journey of faith, and we would do well to walk in her footsteps and ponder her life in this season when we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour. She was blessed with a son even when she was a virgin. Jesus was her son who is now said to be the son of God because he had no father (Bruce, 210).

Virgin Mary

Mary's virginity manifests God's absolute initiative in the Incarnation. Mary is a virgin because her virginity is the sign of her faith "unadulterated by any doubt" and his total surrender to the will of God. Jesus, the New Adam, ushers in the new conception virgin birth of children adopted in the Holy Spirit by faith.

People are sometimes troubled by the silence of the Gospel of St. Mark and the New Testament letters on the virginal conception of Mary. It also might wonder if we were merely dealing with legends or theological constructs which is not claiming to be history. To which extend we must respond is the question rises in the mind of every believer. Faith in the virginal conception of Jesus met with lively opposition, mockery or incomprehension of non-believers, Jews and pagans never had its origin in pagan mythology or by some adaptation of the ideas of his time. The meaning of this mystery is not accessible only to faith that sees in this link that brings together the mysteries in the totality of the Mysteries of Christ. Jesus is the only Son of Mary but Mary's spiritual motherhood extends to all men (Frederick, 273).

Mary in Bible

Perhaps central to any celebration of Christmas is the picture of Mary holding the infant Jesus. Around the picture and beyond the biblical narrative some have developed a whole myth espousing for Mary a quasi-divine nature and claiming that she, like Jesus, was immaculately conceived. The biblical witness however tells us that Mary was much more like us than like the angels and it is precisely because she was fully human that she serves as an encouragement to us. Mary was an amazing example of human faithfulness as she walked along a path where she sometimes took a wrong turn.

Mary began her journey as an ordinary girl who was encountered by God in an extraordinary way. She was young and full of dreams for a future with a man to whom she was engaged. But an angel appeared to announce that God had a bigger plan for her and she submitted herself as a servant to God's seemingly strange design. I don't believe Mary at that time realized fully what that encounter meant or who this child of hers really was. She may have thought ...