Douglas is presently writing a multiple series of posts on the Theotokos and what the Church teaches about her. To whet your appetite, I give you here his beautiful words:
How strange and mighty God's humility and love for us, that He should suspend His plan for the salvation of the world from the single thread of Mary's free will, that her "yes" would mean the re-creation of the world! So great is God's infinite love for us that He saves us not by forcing himself upon us, not by compulsion, but through the willing cooperation of a young girl who in uniting herself to His will becomes the Mother of God in Jesus Christ and through Him raises up a nation of kings and priests to God.
He also has some good words on the Tradition:
So follow the threads.Posted by Clifton at February 2, 2005 09:39 AM | TrackBackYou know that the Holy Scriptures are inspired by God. How is it that we have received the sacred texts? How were they defined and passed down to us?
You know that the Nicene Creed witness to the truths at the root of Christian faith and identity. How is it that these things teachings were won and preserved for us?
You know that Christ was both fully Man and fully God. How is it that the Church meditated upon this mystery? The complexities here are enormous: how is it that we arrived at any ‘orthodox’ consensus whatsoever?
You believe that Father is not the Son and the Son is not the Spirit, but yet that these three are all One God. How is it that we are given to believe in such an apparent contradiction? This is not explicit in Scripture, after all: when and how was this defined?
You believe that God’s power is present in the Eucharist and in Baptism. Why do you believe this if it is nothing but a ‘mere’ symbol? From its very beginnings how did the Church understand the mystery and power of God’s hand in the sacraments?
I submit that if you follow these threads in prayer and study you will find that in the end they will lead you to Orthodoxy. I found, as one among countless thousands, an incredible joy in the discovery.