The Study of Mary, the mother of Jesus - Sept 21

Women of Courage – The Study of Mary, the mother of Jesus - Sept 21

Question 1:  Of all the women in Scripture, Mary stands out above all others as being  the most blessed. What does the word blessed mean to you?

Chosen by God for a special purpose, Holy, sacred, consecrated

The word is thrown out a lot.  We are blessed because our heart beats from one moment to the next, blessed to be here.  Think of the blessings God tells us at the Sermon on the mount. God blesses us in so many ways. We often overlook the small things and even the trials.  Journaling is a great way to keep track and look back at all the blessings.  When we go through battles, if we write down the battles, our struggles, then we see how God leads us through.  We also need to look at all the good, all the little things.  An example was a woman in stage 4 cancer who praised God for the ability to clean her toilet that day.  A simple task we often overlook the privilege to accomplish.

“I must tell Jesus”…. A song that reminds us that we should go to Jesus with everything.

The angel that spoke to her, “Hail thou are highly favored”.  It wasn’t ideal circumstances, but she was willing to go through the struggles and trials for God.   The angel is telling her verbally what God thought of her.

We are just as blessed and treasured by God

Eph. 1:6 In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Question 2: What are some of the dangers that arise if Mary is elevated too much?

Anything that takes our focus off of Christ becomes an idol.  Anything.

She was human, she sinned, but chosen.  It is sad that the ways of God are always perverted and twisted by the world, but this is what spiritual wickedness continues to do.  It is always in the realm of spiritual wickedness, if we realize the origins and pray for God to help us fight the battles.  

Our power remains with God and we need to immerse ourselves in God’s word.  We need to depend on our Lord.  Although Satan cannot read our minds, we are being watched daily and those cracks are revealed.  Since our weakness is revealed, we can ask God to mind our tongues and guide our footsteps.  God protects us with His angels and provides his Holy Spirit to guide us.

We have all been blind, lost, sinners, but God through his infinite wisdom has chosen us.  We too need to have compassion on those that are not in the faith and do not know God.  We must love, even when they despise us.

To venerate or emulate – She was not to be uplifted beyond Christ, but we can learn from her life.

Question 3: Describe Mary’s early years in Nazareth:

Nazareth was a small town, in Galilee, their neighbors were Samaritan, which means, and there was idol worship nearby.  The area was similar to the area in which we live, dry, poor; there was a mountain range that Samaria was nestled in.  They were a working family.  We knew that Joseph was a tradesman.  There may have been a trade route either near or going through the town.  They had access to the Sea of Galilee.  Rome was in control over the area.  How sweet that God chose that area and that time for his Son to come to us.