The Blessed Virgin Mary is indeed
blessed: "The verse (Lk. 11:28) is not used to deny the blessedness of
Mary" - Catholic Mariology critic Gerry Soliman (Rodimus)
THE
BLESSEDNESS OF MARY:
Confuting
Gerry Soliman on Luke 11:27-28
Part I
A blog
follower called my attention to an article of my critic Mr. Gerry Soliman of
Solutions Finder Apologetics “refuting” my blog post on the Blessedness of Mary
and Luke 11:27-28. In his comment, my blog follower requested me to answer Mr.
Soliman’s “refutation.”
While Mr. Soliman regularly monitors my blog, I don’t have the luxury of time
and energy to reciprocate. Just to indulge my blog follower who requested for
an answer, I am posting here my counter-refutation of Mr. Soliman’s article.
Mr. Soliman’s words are in violet while my answers are in black.
The Annunciation: "Hail, thou art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women" (Lk. 1:28, KJV)
Atty. Marwil Llasos once
again tries to defend the Roman Catholic doctrine on Mary.
As a Roman Catholic, it
is expected of me to defend any and all doctrines of my Church. Moreover (pun
also intended), as a Marian apologist, what do you think I am supposed to do?
To defend the Roman Catholic doctrine on Mary, of course.
Which Roman Catholic
doctrine on Mary I am defending in that blog article? As the title suggests - the blessedness of Mary.
Does Mr. Gerry Soliman
refute that Catholic doctrine on the blessedness of Mary? He doesn’t and he
made it clear that Luke 11:27-28 “is not used to deny the blessedness of
Mary. We believe that Mary is indeed blessed (Luke 1:48).”
I thank Mr. Gerry Soliman
for this admission. The blessedness of Mary is something that we agree on.
"See that Mary did not doubt, but
believed and and gathered the fruit of faith. 'Blessed' says Elizabeth
because thou hast believed. But you are blessed, who have heard and
believed; for every soul that has believed both conceives and engenders
the word of God and recognizes His works ... if, according to faith,
Christ is the fruit of all" - St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan
In his article, he explains why Luke
11:27-28 does not shatter the Catholic devotion to Mary.
This is what I actually
said: ”[w]ith this verse, anti-Catholics are confident that they have
shattered to pieces the Catholic case for Marian devotion.”
In what sense did I say
that the verse does not shatter the Catholic case for Marian devotion? Only if the passage is interpreted “to
mean that those who hear the word of God and keep it are much more blessed than
Mary (as if Mary herself did not hear the word of God and keep it).”
Does Mr. Gerry Soliman
disagree with that position? Does Mr. Soliman believe that those who hear the word
of God and keep it are more blessed than Mary? Does he believe that Mary did
not hear the word of God and keep it?
I don’t think so. Nowhere
in his short “refutation” does Mr. Soliman ever claim that those who hear the
word of God and keep it are much more blessed than Mary. Moreover, there is
nothing in his article that Mr. Soliman asserted that Mary did not hear the
word of God and keep it.
The Visitation: "And blessed is she
that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which
were told her from the Lord" (Lk. 145, KJV)
Before we go on discussing his so-called rebuttal, let's give first some
clarification on the Evangelical's use of the verse.
Mr. Gerry Soliman
mentioned about my “so-called rebuttal.” Just a point of clarification, I am
not rebutting anybody in particular in that article. My purpose in writing that
article is expressed in the first paragraph, which I assume Mr. Soliman has
read and understood because he is not illiterate. Or is he?
I was responding to a
query from a blog follower on the “correct interpretation of Luke 11:27-28.” My
intention was very modest. As I said, I merely wished to “give my two cents
worth to this topic.”
If my article appeared to
Mr. Soliman as a rebuttal (of what, and of whom), that is his perception. He
has a world of his own. And I respect that.
Gerry Soliman's Marian devotion (Source: Gerry Soliman's Facebook account)
It's true that we
Evangelicals use it to debunk Roman Catholic devotion on Mary.
When Mr. Soliman uses “we
Evangelicals,” does he assume all Evangelicals?
Does he speak for all Evangelicals? I
don’t think so. I don’t think he is authorized or competent to do so. And in
fairness to Mr. Soliman, I don’t think he is claiming to be the spokesperson or
mouthpiece of all Evangelicals. Gerry
Soliman is just speaking for himself. Yet, he oftentimes speaks of “we
Evangelicals” as though he has a special power of attorney to speak in their
behalf.
In my article, I clearly
stated that I was answering a very specific query wherein someone, presumably
an Evangelical like Mr. Soliman, is using the verse to prove that he is more
blessed than Mary.
"We believe that Mary is indeed blessed" - Gerry Soliman
However, the verse is not
used to deny the blessedness of Mary. We believe that Mary is indeed blessed
(Luke 1:48).
I am thankful for this
admission of Mr. Gerry Soliman. As you see, Mr. Soliman and I are not always at
loggerheads with each other. We can agree on some points. And one point we agree on Mariology is the
blessedness of Mary.
But, if Mr. Soliman has
read and understood my article, I was responding to a question regarding the
use of this verse by someone who claims he
is more blessed than Mary! I wonder if Mr. Soliman also shares that view.
Luke 11:27-28 is
nevertheless used to impair any further exaltation of Mary.
That is your position Mr.
Soliman. But here, you are simply barking at the wrong tree. If Mr. Soliman has
read my article correctly, it was not my intention to press “any further exaltation of Mary.” Where
in my article did I say that?
Mr. Gerry Soliman is
refuting something I never said. Is that fair?
My concern is merely on
the blessedness of Mary, as the title of my article suggests. And Mr. Soliman
is on record as not opposing that. But where in my article did I mention any further exaltation of Mary?
This is what I actually
said: “The passage, far from
downplaying Marian devotion, in fact reinforces it. Jesus makes it clear that Mary
is actually “doubly blessed” for being His Mother and for hearing the word of
God and keeping it.”
She who believed by faith, conceived by
faith: "Does the Virgin Mary, who believed by faith and conceived by
faith, who was the chosen one from whom our Savior was born among men,
who was created by Christ before Christ was created in her - did she not
do the will of the Father? Indeed the blessed Mary certainly did the
Father's will, and so it was for her a greater thing to have been
Christ's disciple than to have been His mother, and she was more blessed
in her discipleship than in her motherhood." - St. Augustine, Bishop of
Hippo
The controversial word in
the verse is "rather" which has an opposing position and can
mean "on the contrary."
According to Mr. Soliman,
“rather” can mean “on the contrary.”
But is “on the contrary” its only meaning.
It can mean “on the contrary” but
furthermore, it can also mean a lot of things gauging from the way “rather” (menoun) is translated in various Bible
versions, both Protestant and Catholic. As I noted in my article:
“There are various translations of the word menoun. The King
James Version translates it as "yea rather" while the Revised
Standard Version renders it as "indeed." The Douay-Rheims Version
renders it as "furthermore."”
I can list more Bible
translations that use other expressions other than "on the contrary.” Here are some of them.
I can add more, but it would be superfluous already for our purpose.
We can agree with Roman Catholics that Mary is blessed because
she heard and observed God's word. But Christians can also
be blessed as Mary if they do likewise.
I am glad that Mr. Gerry
Soliman can be ecumenical, at least on this one that we agree on.
I thank Mr. Gerry Soliman
for concurring in the main point of my article which is actually the conclusion
thereof:
“Christians cannot be
“blessed” in the sense of any physical or blood relationship with Christ as
Mary had with her Son. But we can be surely blessed as Mary if we, like her,
hear the word of God and keep it.”
She stood by her Son on the Cross (cf. Jn. 19:25): Mary kept the faith and obeyed the will of the Father until the end ...
As always, it is the
strategy of Atty. Llasos to cite non-Catholic sources to be objective. The
strategy isn't bad, but in my experience he also uses it as a tool to show
Evangelical inconsistencies (since an Evangelical appears to side with him).
Mr. Soliman uses “we
Evangelicals.” So, it behooves me to show that not all Evangelicals agree with his position.
More importantly, I cite
non-Catholic sources, especially Evangelical ones, to show not much of
Evangelical inconsistencies (that’s a given), but my position as a Catholic
apologist is in fact consistent with
the views of some (if not all)
Evangelicals.
Lastly, I cite
non-Catholic sources as scholarly materials whose objectivity and scholarship I
leave to the assessment of my readers.
Just a note: Mr. Soliman
also uses Catholic sources as a tool to show Catholic “inconsistencies.” In
fact, Mr. Soliman habitually pits one Catholic apologist against another. And
yet he has the gall to cry foul when we use non-Catholic sources!
Isn’t that double
standard?
Greek Particles in the New Testament by Greek New Testament scholar Margaret E. Thrall
In here, he cites
Margaret Thrall's position that menoun is supportive than
adverse. While we don't have evidence to accuse Ms. Thrall of bias, we also
don't have enough assurance that Ms. Thrall is correct here.
I used Margaret Thrall as
a scholar who studied Greek particles and published a book on that subject. Mr.
Soliman does not have evidence to accuse Mr. Thrall of bias; neither have I. So
it is best to give her the benefit of the doubt until the contrary is proven.
Mr. Soliman cannot have
enough assurance, or any assurance for that matter, that Ms. Thrall is correct.
Neither does he have enough assurance, or any assurance for that matter that
Ms. Thrall is wrong.
All I know in this regard
is that Margaret Thrall is a scholar who has studied Greek particles in the New
Testament and published her findings in the book Greek Particles in the New Testament.
The same cannot be said
of Gerry Soliman whose scholarship on Greek is nil.
Just as Atty. Llasos can
cite non-Catholic sources to prove that menoun is in a
reinforced state, we can cite Roman Catholic sources to prove that it is in an
adverse state.
This confirms what I
earlier said. Mr. Soliman is not adverse to citing Catholic sources to prove
his position. And why would he begrudge me of using non-Catholic (mostly
Evangelical) sources to prove my point? Isn’t that sheer hypocrisy?
“You, therefore, have no
excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for whatever point you judge
another, you are condemning yourseld, because you who pass judgment do the same
things… So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the
same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment?” (Rom. 2:1, 3, NIV).
The New American Bible
In a footnote of the New
American Bible:
I have no problem with this footnote on Luke 11:28 of the New American Bible
(NAB). I am happy with its interpretation of Luke 11:28 as being not a
rebuke of the mother of Jesus. Moreover, I am happy with its emphasis on the
attentiveness to God’s word as more important than biological relationship to
Jesus.
Have I ever claimed that
Mary’s biological relationship to Jesus as more important than being attentive
to God’s word? Never.
Oh by the way, the
footnote on Luke 11:28 of the NAB refers to the note on Luke 8:21. Since Mr.
Gerry Soliman did not present the footnote on Luke 8:21, here it is folks:
“The family of Jesus is not constituted by physical relationship
with him but by obedience to the word of God. In this, Luke agrees with the
Marcan parallel (Mk 3, 31-35), although by omitting Mk 3, 33 and especially Mk
3, 20-21 Luke has softened the Marcan picture of Jesus’ natural family.
Probably he did this because Mary has already been presented in Lk 1, 38 as
the obedient handmaid of the Lord who belongs to the eschatological family of
Jesus; cf also Lk 11, 27-28.” (underscoring supplied)
The New American Bible Revised Edition
We find a suggestion of
an adverse use than a supportive one.
Anyone is free to suggest
anything. But, where is that in the reference you cited?
Of course, Atty. Llasos
does not prefer this but its (sic)
from their backyard.
This is a malicious imputation. Mr.
Soliman is cocky sure in insinuating that I don’t prefer to use the New American
Bible because it is from my backyard.
Well, first, thank you Mr. Soliman from
taking something from our backyard. How nice of you to do so.
Second, thank you for reminding me to
use the New American Bible. I’d love to do so. The footnote on Luke 11:27-28 of
the New American Bible does not in fact negate my position rather it affirms that Luke 11:28 should not be interpreted
as a rebuke of the mother of Jesus.
"Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done unto me according to thy word" (Lk. 1:38, KJV)
Moreover, the footnote in
Luke 8:21 referred to in the footnote in Luke 11:28 which Mr. Soliman deliberately omitted even goes as far as indicating
that “Mary
has already been presented in Lk 1, 28 as the obedient handmaid of the Lord who
belongs to the eschatological family of Jesus” (supra).
I am sure that Mr. Soliman does not
claim that Luke 11:28 rebukes Mary. I’d also like to believe that Mr. Soliman
considers Mary as belonging to the eschatological or spiritual family of Jesus
Christ. If to Mr. Soliman Luke 11:28 does not rebuke Mary, and if Mr. Soliman
furthermore considers Mary to be part of the eschatological or spiritual family
of Jesus Christ not because of her natural kinship to the Lord but because she
heard the word of God and kept it, I don’t think we have any real differences
at this juncture because I hold the same thing, too.
Christian Community Bible
I have good news to Mr. Soliman. I am
not averse to using materials from my own backyard. In fact, I love to do so. If
it’s your wish that I use Catholic sources, then I will indulge you. Aside from
the New American Bible (and its Revised Edition), here’s from the Christian Community Bible (Catholic Pastoral Edition):
“As Jesus was speaking, a
woman spoke from the crowd and said to him, “Blessed is the one who bore you
and nursed you!” Jesus replied, “Surely blessed are those who hear the word of
God and keep it as well” (Lk.
11:27-28).
Luke 11:27-28, Christian Community Bible
Commenting on the above passage, the Christian Community Bible states:
“27. Blessed is the one
who bore you! This
woman envies the mother of Jesus and is full of admiration for his way of
speaking. She is mistaken if she thinks that Jesus’ relatives can be proud on
his account, and she is wasting her time if she admires his words instead of
making tem her own. So Jesus turns her towards the Father, whose word he gives,
and to herself, whom God invites to the family of his sons and daughters.
As for Mary, the mother of Jesus, the one who believed (1:45),
she kept all the words and deeds of the Lord in her heart (Lk. 2:51).” [Underscoring supplied]
Footnote on Luke 11:27-28 of the Christian Community Bible
Our Catechetical
Modules also says this:
“Jesus, in His response to the praises of a
woman from the crowd for His Mother clarified, thus: … “Blessed are those who heard the word of god and observe it” (Lk.
11:28). He did not deny the meaning of motherhood in reference to the body,
as the woman declared: “Blessed is the
womb that carried you and the breasts …” (Lk. 11:27). However, by His
response, He indicates an even deeper meaning, which is in connection with the
order of the spirit. For Jesus, Mary is Mother in two ways: by nature – His own mother – and by grace –
the mother of all His disciples.
The Gospel of Luke tells us how Mary said “yes” to God’s
invitation to become the Mother of the Savior. She said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to
your word” (Lk. 1:38) By her “yes,” Mary accepted to become the Mother of
Jesus, the Son do God, and also the Spiritual Mother of all.
"Mary underwent the five acts of motherhood in relation to Jesus, the Son of God and Mary's Son..."
Explaining “motherhood by nature,” the Catechetical Modules provides –
“When Mary is presented as natural mother of Jesus, the Son of
God, it is affirmed that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, the Word of
God became flesh and underwent the complete natural process of generation
through the Motherhood of Mary. This is a doctrine of Mary, Mother of God,
declared at the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. That Council taught Mary as “Theotokos,” truly the Mother of Jesus,
the Mother of God.
Mary underwent the five acts of motherhood in relation to Jesus,
the Son of God and Mary’s Son, as described in the different Scripture texts.”
Mary ponders God's Word and keeps it
The Catechetical
Modules likewise discusses “motherhood by grace” or “spiritual motherhood,”
thus:
“Mary’s motherhood by grace refers to God’s free gift to her
that she shares with all. While as natural mother, Jesus is her only Son, in
her spiritual motherhood all peoples whom her Son Jesus came to save have
become her children (CCC 501). Every charism is given not for one’s own benefit
but for the community. Thus the gift of motherhood given to Mary is not for her
alone to enjoy but for the whole world to benefit as she in her spiritual
motherhood intercedes and prays for all.”
Festival of Mothers Catechetical Modules: In preparation for the 4th World Meeting of Families (2003)
And furthermore:
“Mary’s spiritual motherhood is based on Jesus’ teaching that
those who do the plan of the Father, for those who do the will of the heavenly
Father, are his true relatives and friends. As Mary was obedient to God all her
life, she is the perfect model for this spiritual relationship.”
"But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart" (Lk. 2:19)
“And it
came to pass, as he said these things, a certain woman out of the multitude
lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and
the breasts which thou didst suck. But he said, Yea rather,
blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.” (American Standard
Version)
“While
Jesus was still talking, a woman in the crowd spoke up, “The woman who gave
birth to you and nursed you is blessed!” Jesus replied, “That’s true,
but the people who are really blessed are the ones who hear and obey God’s
message!” (Contemporary English Version)
"Jesus replied, "That's true, but the
people who are really blessed are the ones who hear and obey God's
message!" (Lk. 11:28, CEV)
“And it
came to pass as he spake these things, a certain woman, lifting up her voice
out of the crowd, said to him, Blessed is the womb that has borne thee, and the
paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, Yea
rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep [it]” (Darby
Translation)
“As He
was saying these things, a woman from the crowd
raised her voice and said to Him, “The womb that bore You and the one
who nursed You
are blessed!” He said, “Even more, those who
hear the word of God and keep it are blessed!” (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
"Jesus commented, "Even more blessed are those who hear God's Word and guard it with their lives!" (Lk. 11:28, The Message)
“And
while he was still saying this, a woman in the crowd called out and said, “Oh,
what a blessing for a woman to have brought you into the world and nursed you!”
But Jesus replied, “Yes, but a far greater blessing to hear the word of
God and obey it.” (J.B. Phillips New Testament)
“While he was saying these
things, some woman lifted her voice above the murmur of the crowd:
"Blessed the womb that carried you, and the breasts at which you
nursed!" Jesus commented, "Even more blessed are those who
hear God's Word and guard it with their lives!" (The Message)
"Mas mapalad ang mga nakikinig at sumusunod sa Salita ng Dios" (Lk. 11:28, ABS)
“As he was speaking, a
woman in the crowd called out, “God bless your mother—the womb from which you
came, and the breasts that nursed you!” Jesus replied, “But even more
blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” (New International Version)
“Nang
sinasabi Niya ito, may babaing sumigaw sa gitna ng karamihan: “Mapalad
ang babaing nagsilang at nagpasuso sa Inyo!” Pero sumagot Siya. “Mas mapalad ang mga nakikinig at sumusunod sa Salita ng Dios.” (Ang Buhay na Salita)
“Nangyari,
nang sabihin ni Jesus ang mga bagay na ito, isang babaeng mula sa
karamihan ang sumigaw. Sinabi nito sa kaniya: Pinagpala ang sinapupunang
nagdala sa iyo at ang mga susong sinusuhan mo. Sinabi ni Jesus: Oo, ang totoo ay pinagpala ang mga nakikinig ng salita ng Diyos at sumusunod dito.” (Ang Salita ng Dios)
"Sinabi ni Jesus: Oo, ang totoo ay pinagpala ang mga nakikinig ng salita ng Diyos at sumusunod dito." (Lk. 11:28, ASD)
Catholic:
“And it came to pass, as he spoke these
things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him:
Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the paps that gave thee suck. But
he said: Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep
it.” (Douay-Rheims Bible)
“Now a he was speaking, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and
said, ‘Happy the womb that bore you and the breasts you sucked!’ But he replied,
‘Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it.” (New Jerusalem Bible)
"But he replied, ''Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it." (Lk. 11:28, NJB)
Festival of Mothers Catechetical Modules prepared
by the Catechetical Ministry of the Archdiocese of Manila for the 4th
World Meeting of Families in Manila, Philippines in the Year 2003, pp. 16-17.
Posted by
Marwil N. Llasos, O.P.
at
2:01 AM
