Mary in the Bible

I got an email that said:

I think the Bible references to Mary make it clear that her special role practically ended with the birth of Jesus. She was in the frame because Jesus was, not because she was what RC’s believe. The Gospel writers do not seem overly interested in her after this...To make so much out of such few and tiny references really does come across as if you are clutching at straws.

Several years ago "The Prayer of Jabez" was the #1 selling Evangelical Christian book. It explores two verses of Scripture (1 Ch 4:9-10). A whole industry grew out of those two wonderful Old Testament verses. It is not the volume of Scripture that matters. Everything in the Bible is important. It is the Word of God. The Bible says Mary is present at almost every major event in the life of Jesus:

• His conception (Luke 1:2)
• His development in the womb, including the fetal development of John the Baptist (Lk 1:43)
• His birth (Lk 2:7)
• Offering Him to God (Lk 2:22)
• Early childhood (Lk 2:22-38)
• His confirmation at 12 years old (Lk 2:49)
• His start in public ministry and the first of his miracles, which she instigated. (Wedding at Cana Jn 2:3)
• His death on Calvary (Jn 19:26)
• The birth of the Church at the Pentecost (Acts 1:14).

I hardly think of these as a "few tiny references." I suggest that Mary's role in the Bible is infinitely greater than Jabez who won so much attention from some Evangelicals.

The cover story of Time Magazine March 21, 2005 said:

"...Catholics have long revered her, but now Protestants are finding their own reasons to celebrate the mother of Jesus."

Here are some excerpts of the article:

...Beverly Gavena, a [protestant] professor of New Testament literature at Princeton, has portrayed Mary as the victim of "a Protestant conspiracy of silence: theologically, liturgically and devotionally" ... Most Protestants can identify with the experience of Kathleen Norris, an author who has written of her upbringing ... "We dragged Mary out at Christmas ...and ...packed her safely in the crèche box for the rest of the year. We ...denied [her] place in Christian tradition and were disdainful of the reverence displayed for her, so public and emotional, by Catholics." ...In a shift whose ideological breadth is unusual in the fragmented Protestant world, a long-standing wall around Mary appears to be eroding. It is not that Protestants are converting ... rather a growing number of Christian thinkers who are neither Catholic nor Eastern Orthodox have concluded that their various traditions have short-changed her in the very arena in which Protestantism most prides itself: the careful and full reading of Scripture. (Time Magazine cover story March 21, 2005, pg. 48-55)

Catholics think it is unbiblical to assume Mary's special ministry ended when Jesus was born. The Bible shows that Mary was very active in the life of the Church after Jesus was born and even after He died.

Mary was a "born again" Christian who received the Holy Spirit at the Pentecost and spoke in tongues 2000 years before Pentecostals got the gift.  (Acts 1:14, 2:3)

A mother's role in someone's life does not end when they are born, unless they are given away in adoption, and we know from Scripture Marywas active throughout Jesus' life. My own mother's role did not end when I was born. She still has a role in my life. (I call her up all the time. And she even checks my grammar on this web site - even though she's a Presbyterian! And she thinks Mary rocks!) How much more would that be true for the mother of Jesus, the Saviour of the world. I got an email that said:

Please don't think I don't have any respect for Mary... She is the greatest woman to ever have stepped foot on this earth, but she is not a prayer vehicle. I cannot find one verse in the Bible ...

Actually, I think there are significant references inresponse to thies, which I discuss below. But I think there is also something else we should consider.

Mary was alive at the time the apostles were alive on earth. They didn't have to have a conversation with her from heaven. They could just simply walk over to her and talk with her...the lucky guys :-)

Mary was probably the one who told them the story about Jesus' nativity (Luke chapters 1-2, Mathew 1-2). Luke and Mathew weren't at Jesus birth, so it simply makes sense that Mary told them. I can just imagine them all crowding around her as she told them about the birth of Jesus. Mary probably gave the details of the early life of Jesus that we find in scripture, but she honoured the role of the male disciples to write the account of it. She was a humble servant.

We Catholics approach the Scriptures by looking at the links between the Old Testament and the New Testament. This is how the early Christians examined Scripture. We believe the New Testament is a completion of the Old Testament, and that there are many foreshadowings in the Old Testament that shed light upon the meaning of New Testament passages. There are important passages where we think God is foreshadowing Mary.

For example, the Ark of the Covenant carried the Word of God in the Old Testament. Mary also carried the word of God when she was pregnant with Jesus. The Ark of the Covenant disappears in Jer 3:16. The Ark of the Covenant resurfaces in Revelation 11:19 as the woman who bore the King of the Israelites who is the mother of all those who follow the lamb. The devil makes war on all her children who have the testimony of Jesus (Rev 12:17) We think God was quite clear about who the woman was in the passage.

Evangelicals can better understand the Catholic relationship to Mary if they look at the Israelite's relationship to the Ark of the Covenant. The Israelites did not worship the Ark but they treated it with incredible reverence. They knew that God used it powerfully and they brought it into battle (Jos. 6:3-4). The Lord punished those who did not have utmost respect for it (1 Chr. 13:10-11) and blessed those who took it into their care (1 Chr. 13:14). We don't think that it is an coincidence that the new Ark of the Covenant, Mary, is introduced into the heavenly battle against Satan in the book of Revelation. It is not because of any power that she gets on her own, but by the power she is given by Jesus her Son. There is a full examination of Mary as the Ark below.

If you want to understand how Catholics treat Mary, look at the way the Israelites treated the Ark of the Covenant.

Catholics believe Mary's "Yes" undid Eve's "No!"

Catholics see an important link between Mary in the New Testament and Eve in Genesis. (Gen 3:3-24) We believe Mary's "Yes" to God and his plan of redemption, reversed Eve's "No" and reversed Eve's refusal to obey and cooperate with God. Mary's "Yes" and cooperation with Grace blew away Eve's "No" and fall from Grace. (Lk 1:2) Catholics think it is not by accident that Eve (the woman) came out of the body of Adam (the man), and that Jesus (the man/God) came out of the body of Mary (the woman). This view was put forth by St. Justin who lived from about 110 to 165 A.D. and is consistent with Paul's comparison of Jesus to Adam. (1 Col 15:22, 45). Eve wanted to be all knowing, and ate from the "tree of knowledge". Mary did not need to know the entire plan and at times didn't understand what her son was doing (Mk 3:20). A chart of side-by-side Scripture references at the end of this article helps compare Mary to Eve.

Mary was a true servant. She went to Elizabeth's place to do menial chores and housework for 3 months while Elizabeth's pregnancy with John was advancing (Lk 1:56). That was the custom of the day, to do chores for a relative who was coming to term with her pregnancy. I can imagine Mary washing Elizabeth's toilet area, cleaning the floor, and making meals while she knew she was carrying Jesus, the Saviour of the world, in her womb. What humility, what a servant! (Lk 1:39). Catholics think she still is a humble servant who serves Jesus tirelessly.

Does the Bible present Mary as the "Mother of God"?

After Jesus was born the Bible says:

"And going into the house they [the Magi] saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him" (Mt 2:11 my emphasis).

Let's unpack that line a bit. The Bible calls her by her name, "Mary," and by her title "mother" while the passage calls Jesus by the title "child," which puts him in relation to her at the very moment the Magi worshipped him (as God). I think the Bible was trying to teach us who Mary is in relation to Jesus (God). This appears to be confirmed when Elizabeth said "Who am I that the mother of my Lord would come to me?" (Lk 1:43). Catholics think the title "Mother of God" is very Biblical. In a special way, she is mother of the incarnate God, who is fully God. Jesus didn't become divine some time later in life. He was always God, and Mary gave birth to him as such. The Magi kneeled down and worshiped Jesus, while Mary, his mother, was holding God in her arms. Today, Catholics don't have a problem kneeling in Mary's presence either. She is as much with Jesus today, as she was on that day when she held him, while the Magi kneeled in her presence to worship of him. When we kneel in the presence of Mary it is because she is with her Son, Jesus. I saw a cool bumper sticker that said:

"Wise men still find Jesus with his mother."

Martin Luther, the founder of the reform said this:

"St. Paul says 'God sent his Son born of a woman, These words which I hold for true, really sustain quite firmly that Mary is the Mother of God." (Martin Luther, Martin Luther's Works, vol 7, pg 592)

This does not mean that Mary's title "Mother of God" infers that she existed before God. Jesus is present from the beginning of time. "In the Beginning was the Word" (Jn 1.1). In the Old Testament, Jesus was the "rock in the dessert" (Exo 17:6, 1 Cor 10:4).

The official title "Mother of God" was instituted as a response to a heresy of Nestorious which was an attack on Christ's divinity. The heresy tried to present Jesus as pure spirit who only took on humanity as a convenience, like a coat, thereby separating his human and divine nature. The Council of Ephesus (431 A.D.) said that the relationship between the divine and human in Christ was so closely united that the Virgin Mary was actually Theotokos (Mother of God). Far from distracting from the divinity of Jesus, the title "Mother of God" actually affirmed the identity of Jesus as truly God/Man. His divine and human natures were inseparable.

Does the Bible downplay Mary's "specialness"?

Mark 3:33-36 is often pointed at as a statement against Mary's "specialness"

"Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

Thirteen verses before this passage we find an answer to her worry about him. Mary came out to Jesus because he wasn't eating properly. This would worry any mother.

Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." (Mk 3:20)

We must remember that Mary was a human, she was a mother, she was on a pilgrimage of faith. (Lk 2:19, 51) She was not "all knowing." She was not like "Eve" in the garden who ate from the tree to gain all knowledge. She did not always understand how her Son would accomplish his mission of Salvation. She wanted her Son to succeed in his ministry and she wanted to take him away from the people to feed him so he would be healthy and not starve. My mother said I was crazy when I wasn't eating, I bet yours would too!  Mothers are weird that way. They always worry about whether their kids are eating enough - even when their kids are grown up! This passage does not undermine her specialness, it emphasizes her motherhood.

In Mark 3:34, I think Jesus was saying something like:

"OK ma, I'm a big boy, I can feed myself, don't worry about me, I'm an adult, my ministry has begun, and people who do the will of God are my mother and brothers, just like when you did God's will by saying 'yes' to my birth."

He was also giving himself to all mankind at that moment. Rather than "diss-ing" his family, he was inviting the world to join his family. I remember when Mary invited me into the Holy Family of Jesus. We should also note that the passage takes a cool twist. When Jesus said "Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother" He is saying that Mary was the greatest Christian whoever lived. Apart from Jesus, no one in the history of mankind has ever outdone Mary in doing the will of God. She said "Yes" to bearing Jesus. (Lk 1:38) We must remember that Jesus always speaks on many different levels. In this passage, he speaks on a material level about not needing to eat, he teaches on a spiritual level by inviting all of humanity to join his family, and he demonstrates that Mary is the most awesome disciple because no one ever did the will of God more than Mary's "yes."

Who in the history of man has been more obedient to God than Mary? She faithfully said "Here I am Lord, the servant of the Lord, let it be with me according to your will" (Lk 1:38) not knowing how she would ever be believed and how she would escape the Jewish law of stoning an adulteress. She was engaged to Joseph, the love of her life. Yet she risked losing him, and almost did, in order to say "yes" to having Jesus. (Mat 1:19) She was carrying the Saviour so if she was stoned to death before He was born, He would have died too. Then she would not get eternal life and neither would any of us. Her "yes" was BIG. Mary put Jesus ahead of Joseph and even her own life. This was before Jesus was even conceived in the flesh. How much more would she put Jesus ahead of herself now that He has risen.

Even when Jesus was dying on the cross he was thinking about his mother! (Billy Graham)

Another verse that is often used to downplay the role of Mary is:

"Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!" but he said "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." (Lk 11:27-28)

Catholics do not think this is a downplay of Mary's role, it is simply focusing on her obedience rather than her motherly function. It is showing that the real miracle about Mary bearing Jesus was her obedience to the Lord under danger of being divorced by Joseph and being stoned for "adultery." (Lk 1:38).

I read on a message board a young Evangelical say "Mary is not holy, she is blessed because she was a virgin." She objected to Catholics calling her holy. That really blew me away. The Bible is full of people who are described as "holy."

Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. (Heb 2:11)

For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. (1 Peter 3:5)

...for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."... (1 Peter 1:15-16)

If my belief in Christ can make me holy, I can't imagine someone saying that Mary's belief in Christ didn't make her holy. I think Evangelicals would agree there is no woman in the Bible more holy than Mary. We Catholics think Mary is the holiest human ever, because of her relationship to Jesus.

What does Mary say about herself in the Bible?

Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, says "Who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"  (Lk 1:43) This passage gives us a title for Mary. She is "mother of my Lord." Some Evangelicals ask "why do you call Mary the Mother of God?" It is because Scripture says so and simply because Jesus was God and she was his mother. Mary clearly spells out her role in eternity in Luke 1:46-49

My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the lowly state of his maidservant;
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.

So her role is to magnify the Lord and rejoice in God her Saviour. In Scripture Mary says, "My soul magnifies the Lord." A soul is eternal. It is forever. It lasts well beyond the end of life on earth. If the Bible intended Mary's ministry to end with Jesus' birth (or even his death and resurrection) it wouldn't use that language to describe her role. Mary reinforces this in the same Bible passage by saying "all generations will call me blessed." I would suggest it is unbiblical to say that Mary's soul does not "magnify the Lord" today in our modern world. Sure, she is to be "lowly" and humble (which she is). We also have been called upon to do something: to call her blessed. This is for all generations, all people and especially all Christians, not just a few little old Catholic ladies.

Does the Bible give Mary the role of mother of all people?

In saying "yes" to God, Abraham became the father of all humanity (Gen 22:17). Catholics believe that similarly, Mary's "yes" to God made her the mother of all humanity. (Lk 1:2, Jn 19:26) Mary responded to the Angel of God (Lk 1:2) and so did Abraham (Gen 22:11). The Bible talks about Mary at the foot of the Cross. It says:

When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:26),

Most certainly he was saying, as Evangelicals suggest, that John should take care of his mother. But Jesus does not speak on one level alone. His words are multi-layered and rich. I believe in this passage, the greater meaning is that Jesus gives Mary to all people as our mother. I felt this the first time I read that passage (before I heard it from Catholic theologians).

Old Testament	New Testament
The death of Man came upon a tree in the garden of Eden	The conquest of death came upon a tree, which is another scriptural name for the Cross
Adam was the father of all people	Jesus was the father of all people
Eve was the the Mother of all people	Mary is the logical New Codefendant Eve

And at the foot of the Cross which was prefigured by the tree in the Garden of Eden, Jesus says to the apostle take her as your mother, and to Mary he says take him as your son. Jesus was not simply just concerned with taking care of his mother. He also told Mary to be John's Mother. John represented all of the Christians, he was the only disciple present, and therefore he was  standing in the gap for us.

Jesus could have given that discourse at any time in the days leading up to the crucifixion. He waited until his last breath to do it when every breath wa agonizing and a moment before he died (and conquered sin). Most of the early CHurch fathers say that he waited until that moment because the scenario at the foot of the cross completes the scenario at the foot of the tree in Eden and to leave Mary out of that scenario as the new Eve, is a one legged analysis I would say.

By this point her pilgrimage of faith is maturing. When Jesus was younger, she chastised Jesus when he ran away at twelve year old (Lk 2:51) and when he was not eating properly at thirty years old (Mk 3:34). Now she has accepted Simeon's prophesy (Lk 2:34-35). She has kept the faith, she stands obediently at the foot of the Cross (Jn 19:26). Later she reaped the rewards (Acts 1:14), and now in heaven, she shares the greatest of those rewards with us, her faith in Jesus, King of Kings, Lord of Lords.

Below we have a chart that compares Mary to Eve. Just as Eve was given the title of "mother of all the Living" by Adam, Mary was given the role of mother of the living by Jesus (Jn 19:26). Catholics believe this was confirmed in Revelation 12:17.

Does the Bible present Mary as the new Ark of the Covenant?

The Ark carried the Word of God. Mary carried the Word of God made flesh when she was pregnant with him. The Ark of the Covenant first disappeared in 1 Sam 4:11 when the Philistines overtook Israel. But it was returned to the Israelites after it became a curse to those who did not believe in the One True God. (1 Sam 6:4) This tells us that the Ark has a propensity to turn up after it is captured. It disappeared again, during the Babylonian conquest around 600 B.C. never to be seen again to this day.

Catholics believe it did come back again, just as it did the first time it was lost. Originally the Ark of the Covenant contained the word of God etched on stone by God's own hand. The Ark was not the Word itself but it was nevertheless very important. Mary carried the "word made flesh"  inside her the same way the Ark carried the 10 commandments which were the Word of God manifest in the real word. (Jn 1:1)  The Ark turns up in Revelation 11:19. It is presented as Mary, the mother of Jesus.

19 Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; and there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail. 12 :1 A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. 2 She was pregnant and was crying out in birth pangs, in the agony of giving birth. Then the dragon stood before the woman who was about to bear a child, so that he might devour her child as soon as it was born. 5 And she gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. But her child was snatched away and taken to God and to his throne.. 13 So when the dragon saw that he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle, so that she could fly from the serpent . Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus.

Some Evangelicals have suggested that woman crowned with stars in this passage is Israel and that the 12 stars represent the tribes of Israel. They say the woman is not Mary. The problem with this interpretation is that the passage clearly says her children are those who "hold the testimony of Jesus" (Rev 12:17) which the children of Israel clearly have not done, but the children of Mary surely have. Catholics believe this started with John at the foot of the cross when Jesus presented Mary to him as his mother. (Jn 19:26)

Catholics believe this passage of Revelation makes clear several important points:

1. The Ark of the Covenant has been restored to the temple
2. The temple is now heaven (See also Heb 9:1-12)
3. A woman with a crown is there - the new Ark
4. She gave birth to the son who will rule the nations and is at God's throne
5. The devil is very interested in destroying her but she is safe
6. Her children are all faithful Christians.

If Jesus is the Word made flesh, then we could consider Mary as the Ark made flesh.

Let us now compare the Ark of the covenant in the old testament to Mary, who Catholics believe is the new Ark.

The Ark of the Old Testament	Mary - The New Testament Ark of the New Covenant
The Word was written by God on Tablets of  Stone (Ex 25:10)	The Word became Flesh (John 1)
The Ark carried the Word of God (Deut 10:1) The Ark carried the Old Covenant.	Mary carried the Word of God (Lk 2:38) Mary carried the New Covenant
David says "Who am I that the Ark of my Lord should come to me?"  (2 Sam 6:9)	Elizabeth says "Who am I that the mother of my Lord should come to me" (Lk 1:43) (Mary, was pregnant with Jesus)
When the Ark returned "David was leaping and dancing before the Lord" (2 Sam 6:14)	The baby leaped for joy in Elizabeth's womb when Mary came into Elizabeth's presence carrying Jesus in her womb. (Lk 2 38)
There I have set the ark in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with his people Israel (2Ch 6:11)	Jesus is the new Covenant and he is in Mary's womb, which makes Mary the ark of the New Covenant. Elizabeth's husband Zachariah said "He has remembered his holy covenant (Lk 1:72) ...The cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood (Lk 22:20)
Joshua summoned the twelve men from the Israelite, whom he had appointed, one from each tribe. Joshua said to them "Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God." (Josh 4:4) There were 12 stones like the 12 stars in Rev..	The ark of his covenant was seen within his temple; ... 12 :1 A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman ...and on her head a crown of twelve stars. (Rev 11:19) representing the tribes of Israel.
In Joshua Chapter 6, the Israelites circle Jericho with the Ark of the Covenant and blowing horns for seven days before their victory.	In Revelation Chapter 8-11 before the introduction the Ark of the covenant (Chapter 12) the angels blow seven trumpets to herald the victory over Satan.
The Ark of the Lord is a blessing to the house (2 Sam 6:11)	Mary goes into the hills and blesses Elizabeth's house (Lk 2 38)
The Ark is captured (1 Sam 4:11) and brought to a foreign land and later returns (1 Sam 6:13)	Mary is exiled to a foreign land (Egypt) and later returns (Mat 2:14)
The Ark disappears  (Jer 3:16) never to return until the New Testament Revelation story	The Ark reappears as a lady who bears a son who is seated at the right hand of God . Her children are Christians. (Rev 11:19)
It will not be like the covenant that I made...that they broke though I was their husband (Jer 31:31)	The Holy Spirit shall overshadow you; therefore the son to be born to you ...will be called the Son of God (Lk 1:35) (The Holy Spirit was Mary's spouse)

Catholics believe that their relationship to Mary is very biblical. They feel it would be unbiblical to ignore her place in Scripture. Many Evangelicals say that Mary's ministry and purpose ended with the birth of Christ. If that was so why would the devil be so interested in destroying her after the birth of Jesus. Catholics believe the passage identifies Mary as the rediscovered Ark of the Covenant. Now the Ark is in heaven. It has been found. It is Mary. The passage of Revelation describes the woman in heaven with a crown of 12 stars as the mother of Jesus (not a pagan goddess). She is presented as a very important player, not only because she gave birth to the Saviour but also because she will continue to play an ongoing role in service to him in the spiritual battle with Satan and his evil angels. The passage also says all those who hold the testimony of Jesus are her children. That includes Christians of all denominations. They are all her children. This is why Catholics don't think it would be right to abandon Mary simply for the sake of Christian unity. Mary just too important. Catholics wouldn't give up Mary any more than the ancient Jews would be willing to give up the Ark of the Covenant.

Mary has a very special role in this spiritual war. She is not a "dead person" who faded away into the pages of history. She is a kicking prayer warrior who is alive. Catholics think her ministry did not end with the birth of Jesus. That was only the beginning of her important role.

Although the passage shows Mary with a crown in heaven that does not make her a god. She is a creature. The passage clearly shows that Jesus went to "God's Throne." He is the King. What respectable king does not have a queen. Her entire dignity stems from Jesus, the King, her Son. Catholics have no problem honouring her and asking her to pray to Jesus for us.

An invitation - pray to Jesus about Mary

I hope I have not caused anxiety with this article. I wish only to help build a bridge between Catholics and Protestants. I don't believe that avoiding Mary will help build this bridge. I can't see this issue going away, at least in my own life and in the lives of the millions of Christians who are alive in the spirit of Christ and have been enriched by their relationship to Mary. Time spent with Mary does not take away from Jesus any more than time spent with other Christians.

I would like to conclude with an invitation. It may be very difficult and perhaps impossible for some. I would like to ask you to forget everything you have ever heard about Mary, everything that you have ever read about her, including what I have said here.

I would like to invite you to pray to Jesus. Most Christians would agree that it is completely safe to pray to Jesus about anything. I would like to invite you to pray to Jesus about Mary. Simply ask Jesus to show you the truth about his mother. Ask Him to direct your thinking about her. Ask Jesus if his mother is alive with Him. Ask Him if Mary is praying for us. Just pray to Jesus about her. Try this every night for six weeks. I am thoroughly convinced that He will bring you to the truth about his mother.

Chart comparing Mary to Eve

The Fall	The Redemption
The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." (Gen. 2:18)	"I am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. (Luke 1:38) a servant is a helper
The man said, "This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. She shall be called 'Woman', because she was taken out of Man...(Gen. 2:23)	And Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come." (John 2:4) "woman" is an odd title for his Mother, and unusual for the day, Catholics think there was a reason Jesus used that word
Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. (Gen. 2:22) Eve came out of Adam	But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. (Galatians 4:4-5) Jesus,the new Adam (1 Cor 15:22) came out of Mary (the new Eve)
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" (Gen.3:1)	his mother said to the servants, "Whatever He says to you, do it." (John 2:5) on one level she is amending the disobedience of Eve
Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." (Gen. 3:13)	And Mary said, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. (Luke 1:38) Mary's obedience vs. Eve's disobedience
Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living. (Gen. 3:20)	When Jesus then saw his mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then He said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" (John 19:26-27) Catholics believe at that moment Mary was given as mother to all Christians. (As per Rev 12:17, explained below)

This chart adapted from my friend John Pacheco www.Catholic-Legate.com

Bible passages Catholics feel are related to Mary

• Genesis 3:15, 24:43-46 - Rebecca, 28:12 Jacob's Ladder, 30:13?,
• Exodus 3:11-12, 13:2, 13:14 (Magnificat), 15:20, 21, 26 (Magnificat), 25:8 Ark, 34:19-20
• Leviticus 12:2, 8 (Purification)
• Numbers 18:15 (Presentation)
• Judges 6:12, 15 (Annunciation)
• 1 Samuel 2:1-10 (Magnificat)
• Isaiah 7:14 (Virgin Birth)
• Ezekiel 44:2 (Mary's perpetual Virginity)
• Mat 1:16, 18-25 (Mary to be found with Child), 2:11, 13-14, 20-23 (Maji flight to Egypt), 12:46-50 (Who is my mother?), 13:55 (is his mother not Mary?)
• Mark 3:31-35 (Your mother is outside), 6:3 (is he not son of Mary?)
• Luke 1:26-56 (Annunciation, visitation magnificat), 2:5-7, 16-19, 22, 33-35, 39, 41-51 (Nativity, shepherds, presentation, finding in the temple), 8:19-21 (Your mother outside) 11:27-28 Blessed is the womb that bore you
• John 1:14 (incarnation), 2:1-5 (Cana), 6:42 (Do we not know his mother), 19:25-27
• Acts 1:14 (Gathered in prayer with Mary), Gal 4:4 (God sent son born of woman)
• Col 1:15, 18 (first born, Head of body)
• Rev 11:19 (Ark in Heaven),12:1-17 (Woman clothed with the sun)

 

Lord Jesus, let Your prayer of unity for Christians
become a reality, in Your way
we have absolute confidence
that you can bring your people together
we give you absolute permission to move
Amen