THE COMPENDIUM
Last week, we ended by saying "the four gospels give us most of the information we have about Mary's life on earth, and they initiate Mary's role in our salvation."
Today, we shall start synthesizing what the four Gospels have, dubbed "The Compendium". We shall contrast Matthew and Mark briefly, and our focus shall be the public ministry of Jesus.
When Jesus was about thirty years, John the Baptist started to preach in the Judean wilderness. Jesus saw John's preaching as a sign that it was time to undertake his ministry. He went to John for baptism, spent forty days in fasting and prayer, then began to teach throughout Judea and Galilee. Cf Mt.3-4
Matthew, like Mark, says little about Mary once Jesus begins his public ministry. He follows Mark in reporting the effort by Jesus' relatives to see him (Mt12:49-50). However, Matthew omits the statement that Jesus' relatives intended to restrain him because they though he was out of his mind. In doing so, he softens the negative impression created by Mark.
Matthew describes the rejection of Jesus in his hometown in the same way as Mark. Matthew speaks of Jesus as " the carpenter's son" instead of "the carpenter". In the list of the brothers of Jesus, Matthew changed Joses to Joseph, perhaps a variant spelling of the name (Matthew 13:54-58).
Matthew makes no further mention of Mary. But this gospel written about ten years after Mark, by its positive picture of Mary as Mother of the Messiah and by its softening of Mark's approach to Jesus' family, shows that the early Church was moving towards a greater appreciation of Mary's role in God's plan for our salvation.
The author of this gospel wrote for Christians with Jewish backgrounds. He wanted to show that Jesus was the Messiah for whom faithful Jews had long hoped. He accomplished this by not only quoting Old Testament prophecies (Mt 1:23, 2:6) but by subtle allusions to the Old Testament personalities and events.
By saying that Jesus was born of Mary, but not Joseph, Matthew hints at the virginal conception. Mary's singular role is further highlighted by the presence of four other women in the genealogy. What are their names?
To be Continued....
Mary, Mother of Christ, pray for us🙏🏽
#Ave_Maria🧕🏽
#Grace_Abounds💫
No comments:
Post a Comment