He compared you to Mary and the unspoken comparison is he was compared to God is beyond abusive, twisted and horrific. He was telling you that you were not as good as Mary and he was as good as God. The manipulation and control tactics he employed boggles my mind. I cry for the child you were and celebrate your hard fought journey to where you are.
I am so sorry this ever happened to you. Not only did he physically violate you - horrendously- he both spiritually and psychologically abused you. I’ll straight out tell you I’m Catholic; no, we do not pray to Mary, but hold her in the highest regard. Today I heard a sermon which addressed the Catholic belief Mary was born without original sin. He pointed out that Gabriel called her “full of grace”, implying that by that point she had not sinned. Meaning none of us can be like Mary, who also lived 2000 years ago in a completely patriarchal society where Jewish women did all the work. Now there is no way to know for sure the exact exchange between Mary and Gabriel, but it is highly likely Matthew knew her, and since there is evidence Luke knew the apostles, he would have known her, too. In trying to make the story of Jesus’ life as accurate as possible, I’m sure they would have talked to her. I wish you only the best, and may the peace of the new born Christ child be with you.
And Christa, I am so sorry that you suffered such monstrous sacrilege, such heinous manipulation and abuse. Thank you for lifting your courageous voice aloud. Peace to you this season.
I just read this today. What do you think? It helps me to break free of the endless struggle with the idea of an all powerful God asking a teen if she will bear his son when I consider an alternate view of the nativity stories’ sources: not divine but human.
He compared you to Mary and the unspoken comparison is he was compared to God is beyond abusive, twisted and horrific. He was telling you that you were not as good as Mary and he was as good as God. The manipulation and control tactics he employed boggles my mind. I cry for the child you were and celebrate your hard fought journey to where you are.
Thanks for your empathy, Connie, and thanks for celebrating with me.
I am so sorry this ever happened to you. Not only did he physically violate you - horrendously- he both spiritually and psychologically abused you. I’ll straight out tell you I’m Catholic; no, we do not pray to Mary, but hold her in the highest regard. Today I heard a sermon which addressed the Catholic belief Mary was born without original sin. He pointed out that Gabriel called her “full of grace”, implying that by that point she had not sinned. Meaning none of us can be like Mary, who also lived 2000 years ago in a completely patriarchal society where Jewish women did all the work. Now there is no way to know for sure the exact exchange between Mary and Gabriel, but it is highly likely Matthew knew her, and since there is evidence Luke knew the apostles, he would have known her, too. In trying to make the story of Jesus’ life as accurate as possible, I’m sure they would have talked to her. I wish you only the best, and may the peace of the new born Christ child be with you.
Coerced consent is not consent. It cannot be consent. It is only coercion.
Putting this another way: ‘coerced consent’ is an oxymoron.
And Christa, I am so sorry that you suffered such monstrous sacrilege, such heinous manipulation and abuse. Thank you for lifting your courageous voice aloud. Peace to you this season.
And peace to you as well.
I just read this today. What do you think? It helps me to break free of the endless struggle with the idea of an all powerful God asking a teen if she will bear his son when I consider an alternate view of the nativity stories’ sources: not divine but human.
Breaking free is good. Glad it helps.
Here’s the link I meant to share above:
https://open.substack.com/pub/jesusmovement/p/the-story-of-christmas-is-made-up?r=g2nb5&utm_medium=ios
Thanks for sharing this!