Thanks for the comment . . . evidently it was too much to benefit very many . . . perhaps particularly those most . . . edifiable? by such ponderings? LOL.
I would guess that many still don't have a clue what I was trying to accomplish. But it has to be experienced to be well felt, well understood, I think.
It seems to me . . . that
IF
there were NO DIFFERENCE, NO BENEFIT, NO ACHIEVABLE UPSMANSHIP INVOLVED
IN
the "MOTHER OF GOD" label,
IT WOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN USED.
Mother of Jesus would have been sufficient and that would have been the end of it.
But the deification/near deification of Mary REQUIRES 100's of bits and pieces here and there . . .
here a pebble there a pebble . . . constructing her worshipfulness/adorationfulness/supreme-worthiness . . .
her God-like pedestal
and the MOTHER OF GOD one is a pretty big pebble toward that end.
1. If it's no different than MOTHER OF JESUS--USE MOTHER OF JESUS. If there's NO difference, why brook the least chance of offending God and others?
2. IF it IS different--what's the DIFFERENT PURPOSE IT FULFILLS, IF IT'S NOT AN IDOLATROUS ONE? The only plausible difference is an idolatrous one!
3. Subtle to not so subtle propaganda/subliminal mind control is at work in the MOTHER OF GOD label. And it is not just Mary that is being elevated to the God-like stratosphere.
IT IS PARTICULARLY AND PRIMARILY ALL THE HANGERS ON IN THE BUREAUCRATIC EDIFICE CONCOCTING THE NONSENSE IN THE FIRST PLACE. THEIR elevation and fattened coffers therefrom are paramount in the whole thing.
MARY herself knows better and has to be as revolted at the whole mucky bag of nonsense as anyone can be.
My position all along has been that Mary is a very humble servant of God - as is Peter, Paul, Moses, Abraham and so on. And for that reason I believe she would be uncomfortable with some of the honor given to her, e.g. Queen of Heaven, Mother of God, etc. Of a Truth, she is the "Blessed Mother of the Incarnate Word" - but going further, I believe makes her uncomfortable.
Likewise, I cannot imagine Peter being comfortable with a title like His Holiness. He and Paul both were brought to their knees to serve Christ.
I feel the same about Moses and Abraham who were highly exalted by the Jews, I cannot imagine either of them being comfortable with all that attention.
In fact, if they were all right here participating on this forum – I would see each of them – Mary, Moses, Abraham, Peter, Paul – saying pretty much the same words the angel said here in Revelation:
Worship God!
Maranatha, Jesus!