Zechariah "versus" Mary

[HisChildForever]

[quote name='Lilllabettt' post='1720982' date='Dec 6 2008, 04:56 PM']Zechariah doubted it could happen, Mary asked how it would happen. Two different responses, only one deserving of a punishment.[/quote]

I think, then, that these two stories must be back-to-back for a reason. We are shown what an improper response to God is, and what a proper response is. Perhaps it also shows us that it is okay to respectfully question (the way Mary did) and that God will not get offended if we ask Him to clarify something.

[LouisvilleFan]

[quote name='HisChildForever' post='1720794' date='Dec 6 2008, 11:56 AM']That was a very interesting explanation, thank you. It raises more questions though.

If Mary was consecrated, and the Temple priests heard/saw that Mary was pregnant, would there be any "punishment?" Either for Mary or for Joseph (he was supposed to look out for her, after all). Furthermore, once Christ was found teaching [i]in[/i] the Temple, and even His later ministry work, what if the priests got crazy thoughts that Mary and Joseph "founded" their own Judaism as retribution for being "punished" (I dunno, like crazy radicals) and brainwashed their child into thinking that He was the Messiah?[/quote]

The Law does say that a woman found guilty of adultery should be stoned to death. I've never heard anything about how Mary avoided that fate, outside of the obvious fact that God protected her. Of course, the Law wasn't followed consistently. Perhaps Zechariah wielded some influence, and maybe Mary's family was able to keep her pregnancy a secret long enough to avoid punishment. Joseph's initial intent to divorce Mary quietly was to protect her dignity and avoid public scandal. Good question though.

[Seven77]

[quote name='Theosopher' post='1720753' date='Dec 6 2008, 06:17 AM']My answer to the initial question is a more basic one: One of Mary's titles is Queen of the Angels - it is not the place of an angel to punish his Queen.[/quote]

what!? there was nothing to "punish" her for!

[quote][...]not only is it not the place of an angel to punish his Queen ... Mary definitely never did anything that would deserve punishment.

Zechariah doubted it could happen, Mary asked how it would happen. Two different responses, only one deserving of a punishment.[/quote]

[LouisvilleFan]

[quote name='HisChildForever' post='1720794' date='Dec 6 2008, 11:56 AM']You are right, allowing Mary to consecrate herself must have been very difficult, and finding Joseph must have been very difficult, so it doesn't make sense that there wouldn't be a verse in Scripture somewhere about the scandal and the priests stepping in to do something.[/quote]

Actually, just today I was told that it was a common practice to consecrate a daughter to the Temple so that she might be prepared to be mother to the Messiah. I'm not sure what to make of that though, because that would imply that Mary wouldn't be surprised at all by the news that she would become pregnant. The puzzle pieces don't seem to fit.... I suppose just ignore what I said about that. It may or may not be true.

[Lil Red]

[quote name='LouisvilleFan' post='1727159' date='Dec 13 2008, 03:09 PM']Actually, just today I was told that it was a common practice to consecrate a daughter to the Temple so that she might be prepared to be mother to the Messiah. I'm not sure what to make of that though, because that would imply that Mary wouldn't be surprised at all by the news that she would become pregnant. The puzzle pieces don't seem to fit.... I suppose just ignore what I said about that. It may or may not be true. [/quote]
+J.M.J.+
hmm, i would be interested in reading more about this if you have a source?

[LouisvilleFan]

[quote name='Lil Red' post='1728316' date='Dec 15 2008, 01:47 PM']+J.M.J.+
hmm, i would be interested in reading more about this if you have a source? [/quote]

Yeah, a reliable source would be nice... it's hard to know what to trust when everybody has an agenda.