Expert: Sal - 7/7/2006

Question
WOW!   Case closed!You couldn't have been MORE helpful,thank you!

Please understand that I used to work with a Jahovas witness,and nothing upset me more than someone taking one sentence and ignoring the rest!

I am trying to learn more and more,and meant NO offense!There is absolutly NO more doubt in that department,and I (unfortunatly) owe a few apologies to some individuals on that subject.

However,may I (humbly) ask for a little more on the Mary issue?Does the bible actually say that she sits at the right hand of Jesus?Again,Mary must be a great woman for our creator to look down on ALL of the earth,and choose her.But (bear with me)I remember reading when they said your mother is outside asking for you and he said"this is my family".I am still on the milk & not the meat of the word,so I'm NOT trying to be confrontational,just inquisitive.Revelations (althogh not for the (milk)christian,is to disturbing to ignore.The fact that Jesus has "somewhat against"I believe ALL but two churchs,is scary!I don't mean to offend you or any one that I continue to learn from & question.But I want to do my best through prayer and searching (as I'm sure you understand)to be on the right team,if you will.In fact when I leave work in about a half hour,the first thing I'm going to do is apologize to my mother for my lack of knowledge when talking to her about the(father)subject.She is just begening to enter the Catholic faith.So,God Bless You!Your help is priceless!!         Kevin McIntosh  

Answer
Hello Kevin:

Yes, the Bible does say that Mary is seated at the right hand of her Son and King, Jesus. In order not to miss this truth (and many others) we must understand how to properly read the Bible in context. If we just read the surface or literal meaning only then we will miss much of God’s truth. We need to look for “types” in the Old Testament. A type is any person, place, event or institution that foreshadows something or someone in the New Testament. For example, Jesus said, “We must now go up to Jerusalem so that all that was written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man may be accomplished”. One such thing, Jesus said, was that the Messiah would be killed “and on the third day he will rise again” (Luke 18:31-33). Where in the Old Testament is that explicitly stated? It is not so stated, however, it is in typology. The land rising out of the water in the creation story is a type of Christ rising from the dead. When did the land rise from the water? On the third day (Genesis 1:9-13). Water in the Bible often represents death as in Psalm 18:5-6. So we have the land (representing life) rising out of the water (representing death) on the third day. This is a type of the Resurrection of Jesus on the third day. Another type of the Resurrection on the third day is the story of Abraham’s sacrifice of his only son, Isaac (Genesis 22:1-13). From the time Abraham found out that he was to sacrifice his son until the angel of God stopped him was significantly three days (v. 4).

The Davidic king was a type of Christ. The king ruled the earthly kingdom as Christ would rule the heavenly kingdom of God. The Davidic king always had a queen mother at his side to intercede for the people and to aid the king. In 1 Kings 2:19-20 we explicitly see King Solomon (a type of Christ) interact with his mother, Bathsheba (a type of Mary). In a show of great respect the king bows to the queen mother. Then he has a throne set up for her at his right hand, the place of honor (Luke 22:69; Acts 7:56; Hebrews 8:1; 10:12). From there the queen mother intercedes for the people of the kingdom (as Mary intercedes for us). The king says, “I will not refuse you.” This shows that the queen mother has unparalleled power to intercede for the people of God. Therefore, we Catholics believe that Mary, the queen mother, can and does intercede for us from the right hand of her Son, the King of Kings. We read in a psalm about the Christ, “The queen takes her place at your right hand” (Psalm 45:10).  So once again we see a type of Mary at the king’s right hand. How can we not firmly believe that Mary sits at Jesus’ right hand and intercedes for us? Mary knew from the Annunciation that her son would be the king and, therefore, she would be queen mother (Luke 1: 31-33). St. John even saw Mary in heaven as queen. “A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Revelation 12:1). He further identifies this woman has the mother of the Christ.

In Luke 8:19-21 we have the story where Jesus is told that his mother and brothers want to see him. Jesus’ response is, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act upon it” (v. 21). This may seem harsh towards Mary, but upon careful study it is not negative at all. Jesus is teaching that the family of God is not constituted by mere physical relationship with him but by obedience to the word of God (see Luke 11:27-28 for a similar event). This obedience is the very thing that characterized Mary. “I am the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me as you say” (Luke 1:38). Rather than speaking against Mary, Jesus actually highlighted Mary’s true beauty. She heard the word of God and acted upon it! Elizabeth felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to shout concerning Mary, “Blest are you among woman and blest is the fruit of your womb!” (Luke1:42). So Jesus was certainly not belittling his mother in any way.

I didn’t understand what you meant by Jesus being against all but two churches. What two churches?

I pray that this is helpful to you. Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.

God Bless You,
Sal