[Pastor Ralph]

Q5. (Luke 1:42-43) In what sense are the titles "Blessed Virgin Mary" and "Mother of God" appropriate for Mary? Why are we sometimes hesitant to exalt her as "blessed among women"?

[UncleBlake]

Q5. (Luke 1:42-43) In what sense are the titles "Blessed Virgin Mary" and "Mother of God" appropriate for Mary? Why are we sometimes hesitant to exalt her as "blessed among women"?

The Titles that we use to describe Mary are based on these scriptural references. (I am not Catholic, so I cannot speak to any Doctorinal issues that may or may not exist in Catholicism specifically) As I understand it, Mary is Blessed among women in human terms for having been the mother of our Lord. Jesus being fully God and fully man, being born of Mary. thus making Mary "the Mother of God". This in no way makes Mary more Holy than any other human being. We have all fallen short (Romans 3:23). There may be others that disagree with me, and I am certainly not the utmost authority on doctrine. However, this is my opinion that we are indeed hesitant because Mary was human...fully human after all. Indeed Gabriel called her Blessed among women.

[Elwood C O'Dell]

Mary, as a virgin, was truly blessed by God father in his selection of her to bear His only son. She is the earthly mother of God when He came in human form. Yet, perhaps, we sometimes hesitate to exalt her as “blessed among women” because we struggle in our ability to fully comprehend or understand such a glorious concept as the incarnation.

[Cheryl]

Blessed Virgin Mary and Mother of God are appropriate titles for Mary. She gave birth to our Lord. Scripture states she was a virgin. What a blessing to have such an honor. However, the reluctance comes for most of us when we realize that she, herself, was not divine, so we hesitate to exalt her too much

[Sherylle Ladner]

Q5. (Luke 1:42-43) In what sense are the titles "Blessed Virgin Mary" and "Mother of God" appropriate for Mary? Why are we sometimes hesitant to exalt her as "blessed among women"?

They are very appropriate for Mary. Both titles reflect Mary (as a Virgin at the time of Jesus's birth and that as mother to Lord Jesus (God). Many religions hesitant about calling her that because it is from their religious views. To me, she is both.

[Beach]

Q5. (Luke 1:42-43) In what sense are the titles "Blessed Virgin Mary" and "Mother of God" appropriate for Mary? Why are we sometimes hesitant to exalt her as "blessed among women"?

The titles "Blessed Virgin Mary" and "Mother of God" are true in describing Mary. She was a virgin, blessed and was choosen to be used of God to be his mother on earth when he was on earth. I think hesitancy comes from the fact that she was the mother of Jesus while he was on earth. She wasn't the mother of God in the sense she created God or was before God in any way. I think Mary was blessed with a special opportunity to be used of God. She was, however, a vessel, used by God to accomplish His purposes. God uses believers today to accomplish His purposes in the same way. God is to be exalted and given all honor. I think we are hesitant to exalt her for fear of forgetting the fact that she was completely human. As a human who was submissive God's will, any kind of exhaltation that would take away from God's glory and honor would be wrong.

[les]

Mary is blessed among women for the beautiful purpose God called her to she was the vessel He chose to hold His Son and raise Him to maturity through her we recieved our savior yet we must always remember although she found favor and was assigned this role in history she is still human whereas Jesus was before anything created ever was and will always be above and beyond anyone or anything created regardless the great accomplishments of some personalities we are all way beneath our creator savior and King.it will never be taken away from her that she was the mother of Jesus Christ blessed is she for that honor but He already was even before He came and was born a man through mary

[James in Ohio]

Of course she was blessed by Grace. How wonderful that now we all are! Elizabeth was letting Mary know that since she was picked by God, she was in fact "blessed." This is a great forshadowing of our being blessed, in accepting Christ as our redeemer. As far as saying the Mother of God, it is true, she was tasked with bearing our Lord into the world. We must be careful to remember the context of Elizabeths prayer statement, she was exhaulting the coming of Jesus into the world, and exhaulting the fact Mary was chosen by the Lord to bring make the Word flesh.

[Bro Steven]

First of all the names that were used are truthful, but we must remember that she was a willing vessel for the Lord. We all should be willing as Mary so that great things could happen in this day and time.

We should be careful the only one who deserves exalting is Jesus our Lord, Jesus said himself that I am the truth the way and the live( John 14:6)

[Shaz6]

She was "Blessed Virgin Mary" because she was blessed by the Lord, She was a virgin and her name was Mary. "Mother of God" because she was going to be the mother of Jesus who is God himself in the flesh.

[katef]

To be asked to bear the Son of God is to be blessed, no other way to say that. And the whole point is that she was a virgin, so blessed virgin Mary seems very natural to me.

Mother of God is not as natural for me, more for the confusion it may cause for other people. Some take the message of the bible out of context and don't understand the main point, that she IS the mother of God by the fact that her child WAS God, but not that she supercedes God in any way.

I am hesitant to exalt her because I don't want to take my eyes of of Jesus. Ther are many great people in the bible, how can I judge one to be better than another? How does the verse go? The eyes are nothing without the mouth, it takes all of the parts to equal a body.

[aray1967]

the two titles Blessed Virgin and Mother of God are both appropriate for Mary. She was a virgin blessed by God with a child and she bore the Son of God making her the Mother.

As far as being hesitant about exalting her too much .... I simply do not know.

[mags]

These titles are appropriate as they explain - emphasis what she did. Blessed Virgin Mary - she was blessed by God, she was a virgin. Mother of God relates to her earthly relationship with Jesus. These titles remind us of what Mary did and her servant heart.

[emmaus]

Mary actually was what these titles describe.

I think we're hesitant to exault Mary because although she was the mother of Jesus she was just a woman, the same as Paul was just a man. She wasn't devine. It was by the grace of God that she was chosen to be the mother of God.

[love.serve.know]

The titles are appropriate because the angel spoke them and God did choose her. However, God doesn't intend for us to worship other people (thou shall have no other gods before me). There is a fine line between respecting a person for what he/she did and idolizing that person. Every gift we have is from God (Of Him and to Him and through Him are all things) so how can we take credit for what He accomplishes in us. I think that's why God used/uses humble people to do great works.

We are hesitant to exalt Mary because of this fine line - not wanting to create an idol in our heart.

[Patricia A]

Q5. (Luke 1:42-43)

1. In what sense are the titles "Blessed Virgin Mary" and "Mother of God" appropriate for Mary?

"Blessed Virgin Mary" comes directly from Elizabeth's exclamation: "Blessed art thou among women...." (1:42)
Mother of God" derives from Elizabeth's description: "the mother of my Lord" (1:43).

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2. Why are we sometimes hesitant to exalt her as "blessed among women"?

Sometimes there is a misunderstanding of what this really means. This is intended to express in clear terms that Mary in her womb was bearing the divine Son of God who is God himself, a union of both human and divine natures.

[Patricia A]

[quote name='Patricia A' date='Dec 6 2007, 12:57 PM' post='31648']
Q5. (Luke 1:42-43)

1. In what sense are the titles "Blessed Virgin Mary" and "Mother of God" appropriate for Mary?

"Blessed Virgin Mary" comes directly from Elizabeth's exclamation: "Blessed art thou among women...." (1:42)
Mother of God" derives from Elizabeth's description: "the mother of my Lord" (1:43).

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2. Why are we sometimes hesitant to exalt her as "blessed among women"?

Sometimes there is a misunderstanding of what this really means. This is intended to express in clear terms that Mary in her womb was bearing the divine Son of God who is God himself, a union of both human and divine natures.

[KAFWEMBE]

[quote name='Pastor Ralph' date='Oct 10 2007, 02:17 PM' post='30084']
Q5. (Luke 1:42-43) In what sense are the titles "Blessed Virgin Mary" and "Mother of God" appropriate for Mary? Why are we sometimes hesitant to exalt her as "blessed among women"?
[/quote

Mary is blessed because out of all the women of her time she was singled out to be the mother of Jesus. As the Angel said she had won favour with God. It is always a blessing when God who is so Holy chooses us to open his will on us. It is confirmation that God knows "even me!"

Mary deserves the title "Mother of God." because biologically she carried Jesus in her womb and Jesus is God.

I see no reason not to call her blessed as long as she is not worshipped as though she is the saviour. She should be admired for being favavopred by God but she is not God. She is a symbol of faith and trust by believing God's promise which seemed impossible. She must be a shining example to all of us.

[masika]

Q5. (Luke 1:42-43) In what sense are the titles "Blessed Virgin Mary" and "Mother of God" appropriate for Mary? Why are we sometimes hesitant to exalt her as "blessed among women"?
It is because Elizabeth in her old age was pregnant, and as soon as Mary greeted her the child in her womb jumped with joy. It showed that Mary was more blessed than Elizabeth.
We hesitate to exalt her as “Blessed among woman” because the Bible tells us God alone is to be exalted.

[Rev. Moultrie]

Q5. (Luke 1:42-43) In what sense are the titles "Blessed Virgin Mary" and "Mother of God" appropriate for Mary? Why are we sometimes hesitant to exalt her as "blessed among women"?

The titles "Blessed Virgin Mary" and "Mother of God" are appropriate for Mary because to be a 'virgin' mother is a miracle of God and therefore one would be blessed if God saw fit to perform that miracle in one'e life. Also, the fact that Mary was 'impregnated' by the Holy Spirit, which is one facet of God, makes the child the child of God. God the Father, God the Son, & God the Holy Spirit are one, therefore the title "Mother of God" is also an appropriate title for Mary.
I believe that we are sometimes hesitant to exalt her as "blessed among women" for fear of taking some of God's glory and giving it to Mary. However, as long as we keep things in perspective, understanding that it is God who orchestrated this whole experience, and giving Him all the glory for the Immaculate Conception, then I feel we will be safe in our use of the term "blessed among women".