Question:
Answer:
Many anti-Catholics ask why we give honor to Virgin Mary since she is just human and not God and she can commit sin.
Yes, she is not God but she was given by God qualities that are special so it is almost impossible for her to commit sin.
Let us read the original Greek text written in Luke 1:28
καὶ εἰσελθὼν πρὸς αὐτὴν εἶπεν, Χαῖρε, κεχαριτωμένη, ὁ κύριος μετὰ σοῦ. (Luke 1:28)
kai eiselthon ho aggelos pros auten eipen chaire kecharitomene ho kurios meta sou eulogemene su en gunaixin.
We can read this as κεχαριτωμένη o kecharitomene.
The traditional English translation for this Greek word, kecharitomene is “full of grace.”
We must understand that people commit sin is he or she lacks grace.
“And be watchful, lest anyone among you be found lacking the grace of God, or lest the root of bitterness produce vines and harm you, and many be defiled by it,” (Hebrews 12:15, Aramaic Bible in Plain English)
And because the body is weak, the Lord Jesus said (Matthew 26:41)
People can fight against any weaknesses and stay away from any sin because of the grace of God and becomes stronger because of this grace given by God.
“You, my son, be strong with the grace you have in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:1)
Let us remember that the Virgin Mary is “Full of Grace” not just with grace. So, she can stay away from sin.
Let us also remember: No one else in human history is κεχαριτωμένη (kecharitomene).
The question for those who assail Virgin Mary, is there any woman like her in human history who is called kecharitomene?
Also we will read the Greek word ἐπισκιάσει o episkiasei in Luke 1:35 which means overshadow.
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ ἄγγελος εἶπεν αὐτῇ, Πνεῦμα ἅγιον ἐπελεύσεται ἐπὶ σέ, καὶδύναμις ὑψίστου ἐπισκιάσει σοι: διὸ καὶ τὸ γεννώμενον ἅγιον κληθήσεται, υἱὸςθεοῦ. (Luke 1:35)
The Greek word ἐπισκιάσει or episkiasei was used also in Matthew 17:5.
ἔτι αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος ἰδοὺ νεφέλη φωτεινὴ ἐπεσκίασεν αὐτούς, καὶ ἰδοὺ φωνὴ ἐκτῆς νεφέλης λέγουσα, Οὗτός ἐστιν ὁ υἱός μου ὁ ἀγαπητός, ἐν ᾧ εὐδόκησα: ἀκούετεαὐτοῦ. (Matthew 17:5)
If we will think well, The Greek word ἐπισκιάσει o episkiasei It is used with reference to the cloud of transfiguration of Jesus and it has a connection to shekinah glory of God (Exodus 24:15-16).
So, Virgin Mary is not an ordinary woman but the new temple and holy of holies, where God was present in a special fashion.
Catholics believe in the Virgin Mary as the ark of the new covenant and if we compare the ark of the (old) covenant.
Let us look at these two verses:
2 Samuel 6:9 And David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, “How can the ark of the LORD come to me?”
Luke 1:43 And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
In other words, the Holy Spirit guides the Virgin Mary.
And if the Holy Spirit guides her, the fruits of the Holy Spirit are with the Virgin Mary.
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”(Galatians 5:22-23)
She is far from what other people did who were not guided by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:19-21)
What about these verses used by Anti-Catholics that the Virgin Mary is with those who sinned?
1.) There is no one who is righteous
As the Scriptures say: “There is no one who is righteous, (Romans 3:10, Good News Translation, GNT)
If we study carefully, men become righteous because of the grace of God.
“Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”(Titus 3:7, New Living Translation)
Before Jesus Christ became man because of the Virgin Mary, God already preserved a body for His son.
“Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;”(Hebrews 10:5)
We will read that the Greek word καταρτίζω o kat-ar-tid’-zo means the following: Prepare, perfect or complete and many more.
And we will understand that this body will be taken through Mary who has been preserved long ago as the Mother of the Savior.
Through the favor of God, anybody is given strength to follow His will.
“Let us, then, with confidence approach God, the giver of grace; we will obtain mercy and, through his favor, help in due time.”(Hebrews 4: 16)
Let us remember that Virgin Mary is highly favored by God…
And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee. (Luke 1:28, American Standard Version)
And because of this the Virgin Mary followed the will of God and if this happens, you will not do anything to go against the commandments of God.
2.) For all have sinned, it means that Mary is one of them.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23, English Standard Version)
This verse deals with the conditions of people when Jesus Christ did not become man yet. And because it is not enough to forgive their sins through the blood of animals (Hebrews 10:4), He sent Christ and used a woman whom He preserve.
“Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me;”(Hebrews 10:5)
3. The Virgin Mary said, “and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior”
“And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior”,(Luke 1:47)
According to anti-Catholics, Mary is also sinful because she recognizes a savior.
The understanding of anti-Catholics is wrong, since even Jesus who has no sin (Hebrews 7:26, 1 Peter 2:22) also recognized God the Father as savior (Hebrews 5:7) but does that mean he is also sinful?