Summary and a Reflection: 2nd February

   MARY IN THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW AND LUKE-ACTS

Godfrey Malietso

Mary in the New Testament

We discussed the overview of the portrait of Mary in the New Testament chronologically. In Galatians, Mary is portrait as a Jewish woman giving birth to the Messiah under the law of Judaism. In Mark, Jesus is said to be the son of Mary. In Matthew, Mary is seen as virgin and Mother. In Luke- Acts Mary is portrait as Virgin, Mother and woman of faith. In the John, Mary is seen as someone who asks the help of her Divine Son, she asks help not for herself but for mankind in need of an intervention from above. Also she is portrait as woman at the foot of the cross. In Revelation Mary, is portrait as the Ark of the Covenant.

Gospel of Matthew

Joseph Dream and the Virginal Birth of Jesus

Mary’s virginal conception by work of the Holy Spirit is discussed. Matthew states that Mary was betrothed to Joseph, he qualifies this statement by adding that before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit, in this way he removes slightest of doubt concerning the divine and supernatural origin of Jesus.

Joseph made aware of the pregnancy of Mary but did not yet informed of the miraculous conception found himself with an agonizing choice. For according to the Law of Moses an adulterous woman had to be rejected and stoned. But Joseph being a just man and not wishing to expose Mary to disgrace decided to separate from her and await enlightenment from on high, an explicit directive of God. This is what came during his dream with apparition of the Angel. Thus was indicated the mission of Joseph to take Mary and to adopt Jesus, so making Him son of David. The Angel enlightened Joseph that Mary has conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit thus removing any cause for anxiety and filling Joseph with peace and joy. Here again Mary’s virginal conception and Divine origin of Jesus is underlined.

The Adoration of the Magi

The profound meaning of the adoration of the Magi is the call of all people to the salvation brought by Christ. This perspective of salvation is different from that of the Old Testament, where salvation is limited to the Chosen People. The Magi remain mysterious persons. They come from the East, perhaps from Persia, or from Babylonia or Arabia. They represent pagan peoples who under the guidance of the star, arrive in Bethlehem and there meet the King-Messiah. The Magi express their homage to the newly born King with a prostration and the presentation of precious gifts, gold, incense and myrrh, symbols of royalty, divinity, and redemptive suffering. The Magi “found the child with Mary his mother.” This encounter is very significant. The inseparability of the Mother from the Son in the universal saving mission is being pointed to.

The flight to Egypt

Continues to remind us that Matthew has both Moses and the Exodus Event in mind as he recounts the story of Jesus.

Matthew’s image of Mary is that of the Mother of the Messiah who is also a virgin espoused to Joseph of the house of David. She is virgin in Chapter 1 and Mother in Chapter 2.

Luke- Acts and its portrait of Mary

Starts “...in the sixth month…”, which refers to the conception of John the Baptist. The Angel greeted Mary, “Hail full of grace, the Lord is with thee.” The word chaire may signify rejoice. If taken in that sense, then the Angel would be inviting Mary to rejoice at the arrival of the long-expected Messiah. The term may also be the equivalent of the Hebrew greeting, shalom, or peace. The Angel addressed Mary, calling her kecharitoméne, translated as full of grace, or as fore-loved, privileged, and gratified. To this greeting the Angel added: “the Lord is with thee.” In the Old Testament, this expression is directed to personages who had been chosen to undertake a great mission, absolutely unique, on behalf of the people of God. The Angel, therefore, informs Mary that she has been called to a special mission for the salvation of Israel, as in the past Moses, Jeremiah, etc., were called. But Mary has been called to a higher one, because she alone has been addressed by God Himself with the name enriched by grace; only she became the Mother of the Messiah and the Mother of God. When Mary asked the Angel that how can it happen for her to conceive and yet she does not know man, has been interpreted by church fathers that this was difficult of faith not doubt of faith i.e she did not understand. Mary gave her full and free consent to the divine project, saying, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy Word”. With that “fiat,” given by Mary, shows the obedience to faith she had and readiness to do the Will of God.