Jesus is my mother-a testimony

[Davidnic]

I hear what your saying and I do appreciate Mary too.

But it was most certainly Jesus who was "mothering" me.

A blessed are you and all of us who have had such loss and then such help from Him. He reaches out to us and takes our hand.

 

[benedictaoo]

This will certainly bless any Catholic...

Again KTS, we are not arguing the premise. Yes, a thousand times yes Jesus gives us the love we need, if that is motherly love, he assuredly gives it.

No one is arguing against that...

What we are arguing are using titles like, "Jesus our mother..." and the premise behind it, that He IS a mother and "our" mother.... NO He is not. Mary is OUR mother.

The bible says Mary is our mother and the Church says it.

So if Jesus gives you the love of a mother, i praise Him for that but just understand and acknowledge the distinction between Him loving like a mother and Him actully being a mother. He is not a mother. Mary is.

 

[Amylisa]

I agree. To say that Christ is a "crutch" implies that He can be discarded like a crutch.

Christ is not a crutch.

He is God.

It is very demeaning to call God a crutch and is not anything like what Christianity teaches.

This type of thinking might also negate any poetic references to Jesus in various songs, hymns, etc. You are judging people's motive and hearts which is not for you to do.

Christianity also teaches mercy, grace, kindness and love. Not just letter of the law which kills.

 

[benedictaoo]

Jesus certainly has a male body in Heaven but He feeds us spiritaully His own body and blood much like a mother feeds her children breast milk. "How often I have long to gather you like a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings." -the gospel of luke.

here Jesus shows us His wounded bosom form which flows every good nutrient for our souls.

Jesus does not have a bosom... he is a MAN.

I'm sorry but you have twisted this verse to suit your own beliefs.

Jesus longed for His children Israel to come to Him and accept Him much like (huge key word) a mother HEN gathers chicks... IOW, much like a mother longs for her children to accept what is good for them.

This is no way translates Jesus is our mother who art in heaven... if we are going to translate it the way you are, Jesus would be a mother HEN in heaven... you are reading Jesus being a mother into this verse and trying to teach it to us, that's a problem.

KTS, do you acknowledge that Mary is our Mother? Yes or no? So we can be one family of God, sharing both the same Father and mother as Jesus?

Keep in mind, no one is asking for you have devotion to our mother Mary, just asking IF you agree that she is or mother becuase Jesus gave her to us at the foot of the cross.

 

[WarriorAngel]

I just read the OP.

I am sorry to hear this KTS.
I think - and this is my opinion - that when you lost your mom - the Lord's Mom has been protecting you and sending you all the Motherly love you didn't have.

As for your mom found drowned, i am going to speculate that she fell in...and i hope that helps you. And I will pray for her soul.

In the end you will find that your angels comforted you, the Lord comforted you and His Mother kept you close.
She has a knack for being very Motherly.

It's her job.

I am so sorry to hear this happened sweetie. And it goes a long way to understanding the displacement you have towards maternal figures.

Peace be with you... and much love and blessings.

 

[WarriorAngel]

I would also like to make a distinction regarding scriptures...

As an aside.


Basically when the scriptures tell us Jesus 'is like a mother hen wanting to...'
This does not state that Jesus is a mother...or female.

Furthermore, people understand maternal love in a very different way than paternal. There is a closer bond in the maternal love - and so since humans all stem from their mother's bodies, there is a chemical bonding that occurs at birth [scientists studied this]
BUT God Who created that chemical bond - knows how the mother and child relate at a deeper level than they do with a father.

Its scienticially prooven - its life.

Anyway - God knows when we think about unconditional love [in human terms] we are drawn to think of our mothers.
Because this is how He made us.

So in order to create the best human and natural understanding of His love - [which even a mother's love pales in comparison] He drawns on the only source we comprehend as unconditional love....and that as a mother hen who draws in their chicks [children]

God's love is more powerful than male or female or earthly love.

BUT since we do not know what His love is like - altho He is male by our understanding of nature - He explains to us in terms we understand.

But His love is not either male or female - it is Godly. And that is something that no human can comprehend until they absolutely feel it.

It has no word, it has no explanation. God knows we could never put it into words - but He does give us a general idea that it is unconditional...and protective.

Peace.

 

[WarriorAngel]

O and one more thing...

That passage if we take it absolutely to mean female - we have to also take it literally to mean God is a hen.

Don't think so. Sorry

 

[isabella1]

Subscribing. Finally I got through all the pages! Every time I read a page, a new page would be added . LOL

As I was reading, my thoughts were that sometimes we can be so harsh on others in our own convictions and passions that we can turn them away, or wound them even deeper than they already are. We need to teach/correct, with love and compassion, not with fire and brimstone.

I am reminded of a scripture...

2 Timothy 2:23-26

23Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. 24And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

 

[Davidnic]

There is a tradition of mystical and poetic language in the Catholic Church that speaks this way. People have made their clarifications on what it means to gender and God and people have repeatedly said they are using the terms poetically...not in a literal sense.

Like I mentioned before Blessed Juliana's work has both Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur. And yes...I am well aware that does not make it Church teaching (before someone unnecessarily points that out again). But it does mean there is nothing against the faith in her writings if they are expressed properly.

And that expression is one that is in line with the poetic and mystical tradition of the Church from that time period but recognizing that the language can be misunderstood and should be used clearly.

Kisstheson has mentioned how she is using it...poetically and in reference to blessed Juliana's writings.

And...before I (again) see the quote from Pope Benedict XVI from his book Jesus of Nazareth used as some type of magisterial proclamation. Please know that it is not a magisterial document. If anyone thinks it is...first they need a course in what the magisterium is. And second please refer to his own comment in the preface:

"It goes without saying that this book is in no way an exercise of the magisterium, but is solely an expression of my personal search 'for the face of the Lord' (cf. Ps 27:8). Everyone is free, then, to contradict me. I would only ask my readers for that initial goodwill without which there can be no understanding"
Jesus of Nazareth
(pp. xxiii-xxiv)

It is an excellent and amazing book...but it is not a document of the Magisterium. And the Pope made an effort to clarify that. That it is not a magisterial document is obvious if the book is read, since he intentionally makes it clear and unmistakable. The only way someone can argue that it is not

So the quote from there that has been used in this thread is a theological opinion. One that other Catholic theologians would not interpret as strictly to apply to the poetic and mystical tradition of the Catholic Church, as some people here do. In fact there is much theological work available on the poetic use of gender language and how it does not violate Catholic theology.

Yes there is a danger if it finds an unorthodox expression. But one that touches the mystical tradition of the Church and does not seek to apply it to social policy or issues of sexual identity in a physical reality as opposed to a mystic and poetic expression...is an expression in line with the Church. Granted it is a difficult expression and a complex one. Cautions to make sure the expression does not cross the line have been given in spades. It is now becoming something else, in my opinion, something that is more like harassment.

 

[Amylisa]

Great post Davidnic.

 

[kisstheson]

A blessed are you and all of us who have had such loss and then such help from Him. He reaches out to us and takes our hand.

Yes...praise Him that He is there for each of us!

 

[kisstheson]

Jesus does not have a bosom... he is a MAN.

I'm sorry but you have twisted this verse to suit your own beliefs.

Jesus longed for His children Israel to come to Him and accept Him much like (huge key word) a mother HEN gathers chicks... IOW, much like a mother longs for her children to accept what is good for them.

This is no way translates Jesus is our mother who art in heaven... if we are going to translate it the way you are, Jesus would be a mother HEN in heaven... you are reading Jesus being a mother into this verse and trying to teach it to us, that's a problem.

KTS, do you acknowledge that Mary is our Mother? Yes or no? So we can be one family of God, sharing both the same Father and mother as Jesus?

Keep in mind, no one is asking for you have devotion to our mother Mary, just asking IF you agree that she is or mother becuase Jesus gave her to us at the foot of the cross.

You do see the picture I posted? Is He a man or a woman in the picture? Of course He's a man. a man also has a bosom which is different than a woman's and Jesus' is opened for us all to drink from.

Yes Mary is My Mother. The Godhead taught her everything she knows. Jesus is the greater Mother.

 

[WarriorAngel]

Jesus is the greater Mother

Somehow that didn't come out right.

 

[kisstheson]

O and one more thing...

That passage if we take it absolutely to mean female - we have to also take it literally to mean God is a hen.

Don't think so. Sorry

No more than He is a door or a light blub. Who said that Jesus is female? Not me.

 

[kisstheson]

"Furthermore, people understand maternal love in a very different way than paternal. There is a closer bond in the maternal love - and so since humans all stem from their mother's bodies, there is a chemical bonding that occurs at birth [scientists studied this]
BUT God Who created that chemical bond - knows how the mother and child relate at a deeper level than they do with a father."

Which is exactly why Jesus was a mother to this liitle baby, child, teenager. Unless you have been in my situation and have known Christ in this way you'll never understand what I'm talking about.

 

[kisstheson]

"Yes there is a danger if it finds an unorthodox expression. But one that touches the mystical tradition of the Church and does not seek to apply it to social policy or issues of sexual identity in a physical reality as opposed to a mystic and poetic expression...is an expression in line with the Church. Granted it is a difficult expression and a complex one. Cautions to make sure the expression does not cross the line have been given in spades. It is now becoming something else, in my opinion, something that is more like harassment."
__________________
This ^

 

[Gwendolyn]

No more than He is a door or a light blub. Who said that Jesus is female? Not me.

Then stop saying that Jesus is Mother.

Jesus behaves like a mother. He possesses motherly traits - looking after his children, nurturing them, cring for them. But He is not a mother.

That's the only thing I have a problem with in this thread. I'm not going to tell you that Mary is your mother or anything, but I am going to say that Jesus isn't a mother. He won't ever be a mother. Again... he possesses motherly traits, and may behave in a way that we describe as "motherly" in some respects, but that does not make Him a mother and it does not mean that we can call Him "Mother Jesus" or refer to Him as "Mother".

 

[kisstheson]

Then stop saying that Jesus is Mother.

Jesus behaves like a mother. He possesses motherly traits - looking after his children, nurturing them, cring for them. But He is not a mother.

That's the only thing I have a problem with in this thread. I'm not going to tell you that Mary is your mother or anything, but I am going to say that Jesus isn't a mother. He won't ever be a mother. Again... he possesses motherly traits, and may behave in a way that we describe as "motherly" in some respects, but that does not make Him a mother and it does not mean that we can call Him "Mother Jesus" or refer to Him as "Mother".

You are contradicting yourself. Jesus treated me like a mother therefore I will happily call Him my Mother in the same way Julian of Norwich did. He was my Mother when my earthly mother died. Please don't tell me to stop callling Him that. You want me to deny what He did for me? He fed me the blood and water that comes form His bosom.

HIS bosom...Jesus is male but has the ability to nurture us like a mother.

 

[benedictaoo]

You do see the picture I posted? Is He a man or a woman in the picture? Of course He's a man. a man also has a bosom which is different than a woman's and Jesus' is opened for us all to drink from.

Yes Mary is My Mother. The Godhead taught her everything she knows. Jesus is the greater Mother.

Okay KTS, here is the deal, Please read.

No one is disputing that Jesus is not as loving to us as even His own mother is loving to Him and us. No one is disputing that Jesus did not come to you and give you the love you lacked.

Yes, Mary's mothering came and comes still from the heart of God but also from what perfected human nature was always meant to be. Mary is *the* perfect mother becuase she was not fallen. But filled with grace. No, Jesus is not the greater mother, Jesus is not mother at all. Mary is. And it really does dishonor Jesus to not give Mary the honor that is due her, OUR mother, OUR Lady.

So what we are disputing is the constant contractions we read from you... you say Jesus is a man but then you call Him mother.

You say you appreciate Mary but you go on to say Jesus is the greater mother.

You do not say Mary is your mother, you do not say you give her honor due as mother of the Redeemer and of us all, you just say you appreciate her and that's it.

You also deny that Mary has anything to do with the love and healing you have received.

You also deny that Jesus gave us Mary to be our Mother.

So you keep saying *you know* Jesus is a man and *you know* Mary is His mother but you contradict yourself by claiming He feeds us from His bosom.

IOW, you are claiming he is breasted and feeds us becuase the only way He could do that (feed us from His bosom) is if He had breasts. But you say you know He's a man, that is a contradiction.

All this kind of talk is New Age and not what the Church approves.

You have taken the writings of the mystic a bit to far and a bit to literal.

Also you motioned St Gertrude the Great. She was given a title by Our Lord to address Mary (that is ever pleasing to the Father) as the Fair Lilly of the Holy Trinity, engulfant Rose of the Holy Trinity, who the savior of the universe was nourished by her breasts.

Whether you believe this or not, this is true. We please Jesus' heart every time we give love and honor to His mother. This is why she has so many titles we invoke her under.... becuase they please Our Lord so much and that pleasure is what draws down His grace on us.

 

[benedictaoo]

Then stop saying that Jesus is Mother.

Jesus behaves like a mother. He possesses motherly traits - looking after his children, nurturing them, cring for them. But He is not a mother.

That's the only thing I have a problem with in this thread. I'm not going to tell you that Mary is your mother or anything, but I am going to say that Jesus isn't a mother. He won't ever be a mother. Again... he possesses motherly traits, and may behave in a way that we describe as "motherly" in some respects, but that does not make Him a mother and it does not mean that we can call Him "Mother Jesus" or refer to Him as "Mother".