(a view of g-ds LAW more so than on Faith or tradition alone )

found Within the List of the 613 Mitzvoth (Jewish Laws)

Here you Christians will find the Most Holy Name of G-D being spelt as such, in an attempt to show the respect due any readers that follow the Jewish Faith...and (to my understanding) thereby should not verbalize the Holy Name.. Except during prayer...( pretty Kewl way of Living, don't you think? )

 

This old man is most defiantly not a Jewish scholar, in fact no scholar at all.. Only knowing that it is impossible for G-d to break a Law .. Therefore it must be that Mary's pregnancy was within the laws. Or G-d wouldn't have done it.

Reading Scripture has given me an inner driving that all things, that we feel we need to understand are made understandable, by the help from G-d.... under the promise of  " Seek and yee shall find".

 

SO NOW, ON TO THE LAW

 

The sited Laws: "301" and "302" of the 613 Mitzvoth. These two laws, are part of the marriage laws that Joseph and Mary would have been living within and responsible to at the time of the Annunciation the Visitation the Nativity and throughout their lives.

For you Christians reading this, please understand that, the Jewish Laws are far more precise than you are used to, when considering our "normal" "Thou Shalt NOT" way of thinking.

These laws are spelled out in what you may consider: (2 laws = 1) with an "affirmative" and a "negative", which also waste no words in being accurate, leaving far less room for need of interpretation.

Law 301: (affirmative)  That the violator (of a virgin) shall marry her (Deut. 22:28-29) .

Law 302: (negative) That one who has raped a damsel and has then (in accordance with the law) married her, may not divorce her (Deut. 22:29)

It is in NO WAY suggesting that Mary was "Violated" in a negative sense: because she wasn't ... G-d sent an angel .. the Angel asked ... and Mary  .. after certain reservations .. SAID YES...

IN SHORT ... She conceived while betrothed to a Jewish Man, via the workings of the Holy Spirit .,. thereby making the initiator of that action  responsible by G-d (s) own Law  ....  to "Provide".... as a spouse to the woman as well as a father to the child...

Provide G-d Did:

Firstly:      Providing Mary a legal means of remaining Sinless throughout the Incarnation of the Son. Which may not seem to important to some of us, (and to others of us it does) but none the less was very important to them.

Secondly: Providing a Good Jewish Husband, without which Laws would have been broken, and Lineage Prophecies of our spiritual ancestors would  have not been fulfilled ...

Thirdly:    Providing The Most Wonderful of Wonders Jewish Son. for Himself, for Mary and Joseph, and a Son for all Mankind.

Fourthly:   He inspired three wise men to present His and her son with (at around the time of the holy birth) .. some earthly riches. (which the Triune G-d is the True Owner of and the "wise men" simply the Stewarts of ) This being yet another "fulfillment" of the marriage and or family laws under which they lived. After that He continued to provide 7x7 time ways. (Search your bible with this in mind and see if you can count them ALL.)

He could have orchestrated his own incarnation in any one or two or three of 7x7 ways. But He didn't, His choice was this method, working with these people.

G-d himself saw fit to carry out even these legal responsibilities to his own laws in this matter... who are we to question it ....

This is a part of the justification humanly needed for referring to Mary (Virgin Earthly Mother of G-d the Son) as "Earthly Spouse" of the Holy Spirit and visa-versa, but all of these things can not be fully realized until that day we are no longer bound by time and laws.

So for now we must take some of these things (or some portions of these things) on faith alone. He has done so much already that we might understand.

Bear in mind that, it is from our faith that springs forth hope and from these two is born Love .... and realize that in all of time and the universe our personal love is the only thing HE does NOT already OWN and yearns to acquire.

Being no more than a "homespun" theologian and my best suggestion is:

1) Trust in Jesus to be your Personal Savior....( and showing more reverence for the Holy Name of G-d would be in order for many of us )

2) Pray for the guidance of His Holy Spirit in all you do. (Read, Recite and Meditate upon the the words within The Holy Bible)..

3) Carry out the inklings He gives you. Starting with no malice toward others and if possible with His Love...  and continue in that guided Spirit until which time He decides you are ready for the transformation from this life of "Time" and Laws to your LIFE OF ETERNITY. (for with HIM all things are possible)

Question 1): Is The Blessed Virgin Mary the mother or in earthly terms the female parent or "co-creator" of God the Father? ...

Answer 1): Please don't talk stupid ...

Question 2): Is The Blessed Virgin Mary the mother of God the Holy Spirit? ...

Answer 2): See answer number 1...

Question 3) Is The Blessed Virgin Mary the Mother of God the Holy Son? ...

Answer 3) Read any of the large number of stories or verses in your bible that say she is, and then ponder on some of these questions ...

Q.)    Was Jesus fully God and  in perfect and complete union with THE FATHER and THE HOLY SPIRIT prior to taking on human form? ( His own "Incarnation" )

Answer:     YES 

Q.)    Was He fully God during his time in his mothers womb?

Answer:     YES

Q.)    Was He fully God throughout His earthly life and priesthood?

Answer:     YES

Q.)    Is He even now  fully God while in His Glorified human state?

Answer:     YES

Q.)    Will He be fully God when he returns again to judge?

Answer:     YES

Q.)    How often in the inspired writings of the Bible did He Himself or others refer to Him as "Son of God and or Son of Man" not separating the two but stating that he is both?

Answer:     Not sure .. A quite a few, or at least enough. (and will try to get some figures on that someday)

Q.)   Did Jesus ( as the second person of the Triune God ), at all times, have this hypostatic union with The Father and The Spirit within His person? ( and within, what for lack of a better "earthly" understanding, we will call His DNA ) and did that "DNA" commingle with the DNA of Mary the Blessed Virgin? ...(this is a  reference to the Over Shadowing of the Holy Spirit at which time she conceived a Son and He shall be the "Son of God").

A.)            YES

Q.)    Could she (Mary) somehow be less then the mother of the complete Being?

Answer:    How could we possibly say she is less then the mother of the Complete Being? ...Any more then we are each a product of our parents and they theirs ..Or can our Mothers say (or anyone tell them) that we are a product of only our Fathers side of the family and she is not the mother of each child, the entire person...

Even more simply put, one can think of it as, "They are Family" in every earthly sense of the word and, me thinks, a lot of heavenly senses that we will only understand if and when we get there.

Justification thought: Any other "type of arrangement" of incarnating Himself in a different fashion then we were all created  would invalidate our Gods own words in Genesis that we are "all created" in their triune image and likeness. Other then the fact that we were created and He already existed and only needed to incarnate. Any other "type of arrangement" of incarnating Himself would have given Jesus (God yet Son of Man) and (Man yet Son of God) an advantage over all of us in the area of "temptation" (to site one obvious area).. and probably other areas of human life as well ... an advantage that we all know HE the MAN didn't take and He THE ALL POWERFUL because of LOVE, GOD, in no way needed to or could.

In other words we are all created with our greatest good being spiritual, although we each start out more physical, and are beckoned to spiritual perfection and thereby eternal bliss. Our Savior already existed in eternal bliss and as an example, for our sake, did the reverse. Then carried it to the next step in returning to His Former Home taking with Him, His Glorified Temple of the Holy Spirit. and now awaits us each to do the same.

Me thinks it is safe to say the The Blessed Virgin is the only human of all time that could and did give Our Triune God something that He did not have. This was something He already OWNED and had given it to Her. Although without Her selflessly returning it as well as adding to it Her own Actual Graces (given to Her by the Same God)  HE could not offer all of mankind HIMSELF in the fashion he sees fit to do.

He didn't TAKE it from Her .. He asked .... She didn't BEG for the Honor .. She readily accepted the offer ... She was NOT naive... Or He would have been taking advantage....There was NO "Bargaining"....THEY were AND ARE IN LOVE.....where bargaining has no place.....

 

Mary gave God the Gift of Human Life, and not to demean this Gift by attaching an advertising slogan, but if one is looking for the Gift that Keeps on Giving .. this is IT.

So if there has ever been (or is) a question in your mind as to whether or not Mary THE BLESSED VIRGIN has a special place with THE TRIUNE GOD (whom we have all come to know CANNOT BE OUT GIVEN).....ponder on what has been said here ... and take your decision to the heart... one way or another...

This line of thinking is a part of what allows Mary mother of Jesus the title of being Earthly Mother of God  and mother to that portion of God the Father and God the Holy Spirit which is or was also within the "DNA" (so to speak) of GOD the Son....( no one is saying anything more).

Why do we have such a hard time reenacting the honor that the Triune God has already given to Mary the Blessed Virgin.  When all we have to offer is words and some feeble works?  Why can't we just humble ourselves spiritually in the presence of the most magnificent woman that ever lived... (read  this link and the Holy Spirit via John may give you some insight)...  And we may all come to realize that  it was GOD HIMSELF that GAVE HIMSELF to her that she would become his Mother, for mankind, and fulfill the prophecy that "All Generations will call Me Blessed".

Additional Question #1: This line of thinking certainly leaves open to the pondering of: Do we all have "DNA" when, we will be within, our glorified resurrected bodies?

Answer #1: It can be easily reckoned that, that one we will just have to leave up to the One or Three that already know  the answer...

All of these things can not be fully realized until that day  we are no longer bound by time and probably not even DNA (as we know it)...So for now we must take some of these things (or some portions of these things) on faith alone as He has already done so much  that we might understand. For it is from our Faith that springs forth Hope and from these two is born Love .... and realize that in all of time and the universe our personal love is the only thing HE does NOT already OWN.

WARNING ...(Pondered on to additional depths of human reason: This thought process may flip-flop a time schedule in your mind, but remember, The Triune God has never been held under that schedule with the exception of 30+ years that One of the Members of the Holy Trinity allowed Himself, for our benefit, to be held as such. )

This old man is a "homespun" theologian and my best suggestion is:

1) Trust in Jesus to be your Personal Savior....

2) Pray for the Guidance of His Holy Spirit in all you do. (Read, Recite and Meditate on the The Words within The Holy Bible)..

3) Carry out the inklings He Gives you. Starting with no malice toward others and if possible with His Love...  and continue in that Guided Spirit until which time He decides you are ready for the transformation from this Life of "Time" to your LIFE OF ETERNITY. (for with HIM all things are possible)

(Luke 1:41-50) (New International Version) 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" 46 And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name. 50 His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. 51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. 52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,

1).    If we believe, at all, in Charismatic Prayer we must confess that, THIS UTTERANCE of Mary's was one of the FIRST CHRISTIAN charismatic Prophecies  recorded in the bible. In that, it was quite obviously initiated by the Holy Spirit, (or at least the Lady standing in front of Mary had just, most assuredly, been "filled" with the Holy Spirit and Scripture would seem to insinuate that this "filling" took place by "Mary's Voice" being the conduit through which it happened) so me thinks it is very safe to say that there was no lying going on that day.

    1a).    And (as Scripture and Tradition has showed us) it did Bear Fruit. Firstly in fulfilling Old Testament Prophecies of The Virgin conceiving and giving birth to The Savior. Secondly the Scripture itself  being recited - meditated upon - contemplated - prayed etc. - time and time again and has itself become a Traditional Prayer.

2).    At the time of this utterance, Mary was a virtuous young Jewish Woman. And the Tree which was about to bear The Perfect Fruit.

3).    More then likely Mary new nothing or little about "Christianity" at the time. (or only those inklings given to her by THE HOLY SPIRIT that was responsible for her pregnancy ) and may well be some of those things that the Holy Bible, numerous times, tells us that she is "pondering" about in her heart..

4).    WHO are the "ALL GENERATIONS" REFERRED TO by Mary ?

    4a).    WE certainly wouldn't expect the generations of our Jewish Brother and Sisters: Who are still in wait for the Messiah, to "Call Mary Blessed" other then to have been "blest" with having been a member of the House of David and following the Jewish Faith and Laws as she did.

    4b).    WE couldn't expect our Muslim or Islamic Brothers and Sisters , who (me thinks) all follow Inspired Writings of our same Heavenly Father. but do not believe the same revelations from within our Old or New Testament as we do, so (under normal circumstances) wouldn't be expected to call her Blessed. 

    4c).    As well as it may be a little far fetched to expect any of our  Buddhist or Hindu or Agnostic or Atheist Brothers and Sisters, or any of Gods other children that follow other teachings and or offer worship to other gods, to call Mary Mother of Jesus "Blessed".

 Which is what leads me to the conclusion that these "generations", spoken of, are the "generations' of Christians, and should be those, that "Hold to to the Testimony of Jesus"

THEREFORE:

a).    If we call ourselves Christians and yet have a disliking to calling Mary Mother of the Messiah Blessed among women and or have malice in our hearts toward other Christians that do attempt to honor Our Lords choice in THE Earthly Mother by these utterances ( Prayers ), . JUST WHAT KIND OF CHRISTIANS DOES THAT MAKE US ?

b).    OR WORSE YET we call Mary Mother of Jesus "Blessed" yet still have malice in our hearts, instead of His compassion and understanding, toward anyone that doesn't do the same ..JUST WHAT KIND OF CHRISTIANS DOES THAT MAKE US ?

About the only thing left would be to hope and pray that the Triune God will find humor in our stupidity...and possibly He can find a spot for us within the celestial court as a jester.

c).    OR EVEN WORSE YET.... being the Holy Spirit made the declaration (via Elizabeth) that Mary is Blessed. And Mary then prophesied either in the presence of the same Holy Spirit, or by His causing...(Seriously, does it matter which choice we care to make?) and our pride causes us to speak or act in either of the fashions mentioned above in (a) or (b) ....A very serious question arises.....Does that constitute the sin of all sins, spoken of by Jesus Himself,. (Matthew 12: 30-32) and (Matthew 12: 36-37), when He cautions us to, be very cautious as to  what you say about Trees and their Fruit???

    c1).    Because speaking or acting as such  would certainly seem to be the fruit of a stubborn pride, which is the type of pride, that uses a false humility to hide behind. And as long as that type of pride exists it refuses to be confessed. Thereby cannot be forgiven....

    c2).    IF this stern warning in (Matthew 12: 30-32) would happen to be a reference to the physical activities of the Holy Spirit where the incarnation of the Savior is concerned, it certainly would show the extent to which Our Savior (like any perfect son) is willing to defend His Mother.

 

This old man is a "homespun" theologian and my best suggestion is:

1) Trust in Jesus to be your personal Savior....

2) Pray for the guidance of His Holy Spirit in all you do. (Read, Recite and Meditate on the The Words within The Holy Bible)..

3) Carry out the inklings He gives you. Starting with no malice toward others and if possible with His Love...  and continue in that guided Spirit until which time He decides you are ready for the transformation from this life of time to your LIFE OF ETERNITY. (for with HIM all things are possible)

For the Incarnation of THE SINLESS FRUIT, (that would be Jesus),  it simply could not do to have anything less then a SINLESS TREE.( that would be Mary the Blessed Virgin)   

1).    If The Virgin Mary were not Betrothed, at the time of the Conceiving Jesus, it would have been, by Jewish Law, a sin (on her part) for Her to become pregnant.  The law only deals with the normal earthly means of man and woman, It could be supposed, because the law only needed be written for mankind, but Mary was a member of that mankind and under that law.  

    1a).    As far as what the overshadowing in curtailed is really non of our business ..Other then to show reverence to the fact that it was, by the Authority of God, via the activity of the Holy Spirit and that Gods prophecies of The Virgin conceiving and a Savior being born for the good of mankind were fulfilled. And this is all we really need to know, and we should accept it as Joseph did.

2).     If she had already experienced the Jewish marriage ceremony ( Normally anywhere from 1 to 2 years from the time of the betrothal in those days) it would have been (by Jewish Law) a sin for anyone else, other then Joseph, to cause her to become pregnant. (as long as he was alive and hadn't divorced her) OR a reenactment of the mistake of Josephs ancestral father King David would have been needed. or something to that effect, and THAT wasn’t about to happen.

3).    So as usual all actions taken were orchestrated by God and within His earthly laws, given to the Jewish people. He did this by inspiring just the right people at just the right time, to work with his will for the benefit of mankind. and thereby allowing Mary to remain sinless. (even through what had to appear at the time to the people of the Jewish community as a very precarious situation)

To which My Homespun Curious Logic ..Has to Ask? 

If God had pulled us through such an experience and we (you or me) were living (under the same roof) with Jesus, as Mary and Joseph did. Would she have had an easier time (then we do) staying away from even the slightest sin? Would She and Joseph have had an easier time (under their circumstances) devoting their whole hearts, minds, and all of their strength to a ministry of bringing God into the world (as we are all suppose to be doing) and remaining sinless in His Presence? (and it is realized the Pentecostal thoughts of justification  that will go through some portions of our minds about now ..that "WE ARE ALL LIVING WITH GOD AT ALL TIMES" and it is true ) but am considering Mary's life here and trying to put myself (and you) in her place.....

An appeal is being made here to my own and each persons COMMON SENSE and trying very hard to NOT take into consideration that Mary was chosen by God himself from the earliest time of earthly life  and even before (as was Jeremiah) as THE prime candidate for the Ministry that would be offered to Her and was perfectly suited for it in Gods own estimation ... Also it would be hard not to believe that Joseph was also chosen with the same criteria to fulfill His destiny.

An attempt is being made, to NOT look at it as though they had some "special Graces" that they didn't "work for"....It is NOT like our God to allow us to see reflections of Himself, in others, that in one way or another haven't "paid the price" for the privilege of being in that office of life.

Even though the reference in Johns' (Revelation 12:5-6 and 12:14-17) would certainly appear to say Mary had been Graced beyond that of the "general populous"... as well as the Prophecy in (Revelation 12: 1) certainly looks to me to be a lot like: Our Lady of Fatima - as well as Our Lady of Guadeloupe - Our Lady of Lourdes (and quite a few of the other 111 confirmed apparitions that this old man has heard of, that God has seen fit to allow over the centuries) . But setting these things aside let us first look at the average person who is trying to bring God into this world (and remain sinless in His Presence) and some of the normal effects and responses  to "temptation" , "sin", and the normal effects of  "Virtue" and Grace. 

AS FOLLOWS:

Have you ever noticed that if there is a particular sin you are (or were) "fond" of .. and here is a short list of a few to jumpstart the thought process...and we will stay with sickening socially acceptable ones in case there is someone in the room with you as to not cause embarrassment:

Here is the list:

1). Gossiping (to include meaningless conversations or texting, which simply eat up time but are not of a real constructive nature) ....

2). Saying bad things about others in order to make ones self seem or feel better about our own personal flaws (or overstate some minor virtue in word or action to make sure others know we "are of Gods flock")...

3). Over indulgence of allowed pleasures (to include Over eating -TV watching - Internet surfing or games - Tobacco - Booze,) ......OK me thinks we can all finish the list on our own.

But have you ever noticed that when something BIG enters your life ..these things "temporally" become meaningless .. and by "big" it is meant a trial such as:  Your Dad Dies -You find out that you are "unexpectedly" pregnant - You are told you or someone very close to you has Cancer -  You lose you job for a totally unjust reason...and this list could go on and on but me thinks the point is made ...

When these type of "trials" (which DO "try" our character) come into our lives .. our rudimentary vice sins really "take a back seat" ... as our Compassions - Fortitudes - and often Our publicly showing our Faith in God ... are called to the forefront of our being and those other actions or activities (which were producing little or  no good) totally disappear from the focus of our minds eye or our desire...

Would it be to far fetched to imagine that Our Father in Heaven  (while not "causing" a cancer or death or pregnancy or loss of Office in life or a rude king trying to kill your child ) is aware of and  utilizes these BIG happenings, and while we may see them as some form of a curse, it is His Holy Spirit that is calling our virtues (which may be what little we have left of His gifts) to the forefront in hopes that we will further embrace them? (and if you think this is far fetched please read the Book of Job)

And that our character while being "tried" or "tested" is being called to unite itself to that of Jesus and is "paying the price" for its office in life.  In that while we already have those things that are dragging us down "in the back seat" we will STOP the car ... open the door and insist they leave.

In other words it would seem to be a natural progression that even though Sinning causes a feeling of Guilt (which can be seen as Fear of Lord) that should lead to remorse - followed by - reconciliation - and thereby back to a quest for Virtue aiming us toward Grace .... Trials naturally lead to the coming forth (or adding to) of Virtues, which have a tendency to cause us to stay away from sin and thereby become Graced. (for seemingly in the presence of Earthly Virtue, "temptation" has less power and in the presence of Heavenly Grace temptation has NO power )...

So anyway back to Mary and Joseph:

1). The Bible tells us that Mary is "Blessed among women" that She is "Full of Grace" and that "All Generations will call Me (Her) Blessed"

2). The Bible tells us that Joseph "Is a Righteous Man". We know that he spent the bulk of His adult life in the presence of God the Son ...and the Bible tells us of plenty special messages coming in dreams to Joseph by Angels sent from God the Father ..which Tradition (as well as modern charismatic thought) teaches that Gifts such as Holy Angelic Visions are generally not received by someone that is NOT in a state of Grace.     

3). Together they traveled through life knowing the responsibility that THEY accepted. And encountered many major trials causing their virtues to heap virtue upon virtue .... What "Trials" did "they" have some might ask?? WELL:

    3a).    Easy to reckon that...Having holy people (in your own church (Temple)) tell you that He (your son) will be the downfall of many ..and a sword will pierce your soul. . wasn't easy to hear, but may have a further humbling effect...

    3b).    As well as having someone like King Herod .. trying to murder your son . ....  would have taken some pondering ....and made even worse when that piece of manure killed all your neighbors sons.... (the humility of this one could last a few years if it happened to you or me, especially if we knew the Books of Prophecy as well  as all Jewish Families of their day and it dawned on us that we were LIVING them out)

    3c).    Losing the Son of God the Father for a matter of at least 3 days ... could have caused a couple sleepless nights. ...Scripture tells of other trials of earthly life as well  (search your bible with this in mind and let me know if you find anything interesting)

Can we honestly think that "temptation"  had a chance of causing either of them to cross over.... GET REAL (although  me thinks, as a Father myself, that Joseph would have been "tempted" to give into anger at Herod, but common sense tells me that taking ONE LOOK at his Son ((as well as a handy message by an Angel of God telling Him to skedaddle to Egypt )) would have thrown everything back into perspective and even though worry may be inevitable, the same Virtue of Faith, that had lead them in previous and subsequent stories we "are" told about in Scripture, would keep the temptation of sinful anger away.)

This old man has come to believe that NOT SINNING came quite naturally .. to This Jewish Family .

And yet some may tell me that: The Bible states that "None are without Sin" by quoting (John 1:8) therefore Mary is a sinner .... and it will be pointed out to them that, this is only one of the verses within the Good Book warning those whose pride causes them to attempt to elevate their own status by tearing down the status of others that they should spend more time working on their own humility... And that MOST of these verses are telling us to not go around attempting to prove to ourselves and "the general populous" that "we" are not sinners, and that if we do, we are liars ....

And that Tradition has proven that The Virgin Mary considered Herself to be far less then She really was. As well as that: the same Bible that attests to Her "Blessed" nature, affirms us of Her Humility within the same verses in stating that "My spirit rejoices in God My Savior". Which is NOT some admission to BEING a sinner, but only in humility "assuming" herself to be one...for in Her true Humility she could NOT judge her own soul .. any more than WE (who have as much Pride as She has Motherly Love for us) can judge the extent of our own sins, let alone someone else's .

We all can or should know that a Soul cannot "Magnify" (ie: Douay Rheims or King James Version) or "Glorify" (NIV version) the Lord, or Ones Spirit cannot "rejoice in God", (and in this Scriptural record the recognition of the knowledge of the difference between Soul and Spirit are dually noted)  , unless it is in a totally sinless state....

Can we imagine anyone's Spirit rejoicing more than Mary, that day? With God Himself in Her Womb and standing in the presence of a Woman freshly "filled with the Holy Spirit" and prophesying from Her Own Humble Lips .. that... "All generations will call me Blessed" 

And that the Bible is compiled  for "the general populous" of all times and that although IT IS TO BE a personal guide. It was initially instituted as the gathering of Inspired Writings as Canon for use within a common Liturgy ...and not necessarily a "play by play" handbook to tell us what color of car to buy. 

And although Mary WAS a member of that "general" populous at one time, she of course would NOT have "read" the New Testament because She was to busy "living it" "with Jesus and Joseph and John". And They all lived under the 613 Mitzvoth (Jewish Laws) ... which may or may not have been easier to live a  sinless life  under, but it certainly couldn't have been any harder than some of the piously perceived "scriptural laws" many a modern man wishes to force their memory to live under...   

And that it could be found odd that so many are willing (and obviously extremely zealous) in Spirit, to be in a quest, to bring other humans to Jesus  through their own intercessions, but are lacking in a heartfelt belief strong enough to allow room for others (Earthly believers but especially Saints with centuries long track records of success in that arena) to continue Their Quest of bringing ALL humans to Jesus (that all mankind may get to know The Father).. The twist of which, may be as simple as giving into the notion that "these Saints are NOT dead", in fact more alive now that their destiny has been fulfilled. And that the overall "quest" may well be more efficient if we all took advantage of their help (gifts given to them by Our Father) which they are desirous to continue sharing with their Brothers and Sisters that are still on earth, until the last one of us has joined them in Everlasting Praise and Worship of THE TRIUNE GOD.

And hopefully after that we can at least come to an understanding that each person "interprets"  Scripture in a fashion that draws from their own personal experiences in this life .. and that many have found the experience of having Mary Mother of Jesus as a personal friend to be a very positive conduit in their quest of knowing and loving Jesus.

As well as that we all need to give thanks to The Father for the privilege of a free will that allows us each the ability to come to Jesus through Scripture (in its many interpretations by the Power of The Holy Spirit ) as well as through other humans, (yourself hopefully included) in the knowledge that no one can come to The Father except through the Son..

Then maybe there will be no need to "shake the dust from our feet" (in each others direction, so to speak)... for with God all things are possible...