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Just human

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" My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour". It might be thought that this verse in Luke 1:46-47 would have settled the matter once an for all. How could Mary be anything but human if she requires a Saviour? These phrases have been sung or said by millions each day down the centuries as the opening words of the Magnificat used in Evening Prayer.

No orthodox Christian, Roman Catholic or Protestant has ever suggested that she is divine. Perhaps our Orthodox and Roman Catholic friends have muddied the waters somewhat by suggesting that prayers may be made through her to our Lord and that she may be given a form of reverence lower than that of the worship of God, but higher than any other creature

That she was special cannot be denied. First, she was special in the way that all humans are special- she was made in the image of God- she was God's eikon. This knocks on the head forever those who think that women are a sub species of man and are inferior to them. No male could do what she did- bring into being the Incarnate Word, Jesus.As she prophesied, all generations would bless her. Men and women would bless her name because God allowed one of his eikons to perform this miracle, but women especially would bless her because she made one of their sex so special in God's plan of salvation.

In 431 at the Council of Ephesus, the term "theotokos" -God bearer, was approved as properly describing Mary. All Christians must agree with this. From the moment of his conception, Jesus must have possessed human and divine natures. The focus must always be on Jesus rather than Mary, for if he were not divine, then our salvation is in question.

Mary must be honoured for what she did. Surely the angels stood on tiptoe waiting for her answer when the angel Gabriel visited her on that momentous day in the poor town of Nazareth! But Mary was an obedient child of God. Only legend informs us of her parentage, but they must have been godly people. Mary's theology and her practice co-incided. Her belief and obedience were one. Such a one was the only suitable parent for God incarnate. It is interesting that very little is said in Scripture about Joseph. That he was "a righteous man" we know from Matthew's Gospel, but nowhere is it suggested that he took part in Jesus' theological upbringing. Admittedly, it doesn't say that Mary did either! However, there are clues to be had for those who will look.

Jesus would have had his first theological lessons at

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