Christ Presents CHRIST, and PURIFIES

    Though the “days of her purification” had come Our Lady was not under Moses like Miriam (Maryam) had been.  The Ever Virgin was not baptized under the cloud but was baptized by carrying God in her inviolate womb.  As The Great Law Giver had been purified from his past life and called into the Office of typological “Prophet, Priest, and King” at the burning bush of ADONAI; so too the Maiden from Nazareth had been purified by being made the burning bush -- carrying, nurturing, and feeding (all by The Lord’s Grace and Might to be sure) the ADONAI now made flesh of her flesh and blood of her blood: IMMANUEL.

    The Laws and Commands of Moses were all kept, completed, and fulfilled in Christ Jesus the Lady’s Son…and the Lady’s Savior.  In Him all the sins and depredations of our first Mother Saint Eve were healed and made whole.  Adam’s help-mate thought the Lord had “given her a man” who would be the promised Seed-Messias, but Saint Mary was the true “handmaid of the Lord” who had the God/Man given her in a way that is ontologically sui generis.  There may be only One Moses, but there were many great Prophets and Patriarchs.  There may be only One Peter, but there were other great Apostles.  There may be only One Paul, but the office of Missionary-Martyr would continue.   There is only One Blessed Virgin Mary and we thank The Lord this day for her and the Grace that shines forth in her and through her.  For Mary points always (in a Holy Sprit constrained way) to her Son: “Listen to Him, whatever He says, do it!”  Mary’s Song is like The Baptizer’s bony finger—it draws the eye’s attention to the "Lamb of God Who taketh away the Sin of the world."

   While Moses' sons opened the matrixes of their mothers, Mary remained pure virgin.  While this point of doctrine can no longer be taught in our circles for many and varied reasons, we nonetheless take comfort in our Symbols which correctly explicate the Holy Word of the Lord, to-wit:  Smalcald Article IV “et ex Maria, pura, sancta, sempervirgine…” [Triglotta p. 460];  Solid Declaration Formula of Concord Article VIII  “Mary, the most blessed virgin, did not conceive a mere, ordinary human being, but a human being who is truly the Son of the most high God, as the angel testifies. He demonstrated his divine majesty even in his mother’s womb in that he was born of a virgin without violating her virginity. Therefore she is truly the mother of God and yet remained a virgin.” [Triglotta p. 1023]

    The same reason you don’t have to bring your lamb, ram, or ox to the tent door (the doors between your narthex and nave) for the priests to slit throats and gather blood, is because Jesus has paid for your trespasses with His own bitter suffering and death on Calvary’s Cross.  Jesus is your expiation, propitiation, atonement, and purification from all sin.  The reason the Semper Virgo Mother of God did not have to bring a lamb (though she did bring a pair of turtledoves) sacrifice to the Temple on the 40^th day, is because she carried in her arms, suckling at her breasts, THE SACRIFICE HIMSELF—the Paschal Lamb her Son, Christ Jesus.

   He had exited her Womb without opening out; and thus, without violating her virginal purity she needed no ritual cleansing.  Eve’s honor and  virginal purity of being a blessed child of the Father and spotless sister of the Son was restored in Christ’s Person and Work (the twin turtledoves of justice and righteousness). 

   Thus well does Saint Mary Mother of God symbolize and typify the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.  Mary holds up the Christ, like she did to Saint Simeon, and we the Church join with her in receiving “The Light of the Gentiles and the Glory of Israel.”

   A Most Blessed Purification of Saint Mary and Presentation of Our Lord Day to one and all

 

Deo Vindice

Fr. Watson S.S.P.