Love cannot function without others. And from the very beginning—Love is fulfilled (for our witness) by His communion with humans.
There is no love in thinking and believing in doctrine or playing mental gymnastics. No love in knowing or imagining or waiting for heaven.
Love is in community. Love is a God who permeates throughout His creation, ever affecting it, ever inviting more and more humans to partake in His fullness.
Particularly, I have grown a deep reverence and unexplainable understanding of His Love in the example of the human He chose to be His mother.
I’ll admit, it sounds kooky to my old self—the person who thought that God was in the thinking, the convincing, the solo whisper of I believe. The history of the Church was cool, but only relevant by its ideas and how much I could twist and justify and verify.
I have even heard—and have muttered, I confess—Who cares who God chose to inhabit for 9 months? He could have chosen anyone—He’s God.
Lord have mercy.
He chose only one.
If I am thrilled by my loved ones to choose God, imagine being the One woman chosen by Him to bring about the most pivotal story in history?
Not just anyone.
Mary’s actual upbringing and pre-Christian life is fascinating, a story worth knowing. She wasn’t just an ordinary teenager. And she wasn’t the wife of Joseph as we imagine a “wife” to be.
The early church knew her story because she lived and breathed beside the apostles from the very foot of the cross forward. And she was not just someone, according to Apostolic tradition.
In its fullness, there is beauty told of a woman so in love with her God that she was given the privilege to love His Son as His mother. And she was not just one of His followers, but she was His one and only mother. His one and only flesh and blood on earth. The flesh and blood of God.
Her motherhood overwhelms me.
I know the fierce love I have for my sons.
And Mary’s son is God.
God’s Love abounds—from the beginning until the very end. Not one person should be minimized—especially not the Mother of our God.
As we enter the Fast of the Dormition of the Theotokos (God-Bearer or Mother of God), I wanted to share this ancient supplication—preserved from the 3rd century:
Beneath your compassion,
We take refuge, O Theotokos:
do not despise our petitions in time of trouble;
but rescue us from dangers,
only pure, only blessed one.
I will forever be grateful to Father Stephen Freeman and his insights into my faith—learn more on this topic here
angie dicken 