Hi:

I was giving a lesson on ordination to my 8th grade religion class.

I was teaching that women, with Mary as a role model, have been given the special gift by God of bringing human beings into the world. In faith we believe that all human beings are temples of the Holy Spirit and that we all make up the Body of Christ. So, in a special way, mothers are called to bring God into the world, just like Mary. We are all made in God's image, so through childbirth, an intimate and truly human experience, women become special channels of grace.

In God's wisdom, God chose Mary, a woman, to be the channel for Christ to enter the world. And, in God's wisdom, He willed that Christ, a male, would institute a sacrament by which men would be channels of God's grace. He chose that this sacrament would involve another intimate and truly human experience, meals. We have come to know these "meals" as spiritual meals, or agapes. Today we continue to have these agapes in the same way that Jesus showed us.

Is this in line with Church teaching? Should I have said something a little differently? My degree is really in philosophy but I'm working on an MA in Theology. This is my first year teaching and I get a little nervous sometimes.

Let me know what you think...

Thanks

Rookie

-- "rookie" (rookie@relteacher.com), September 20, 2004

Answers

bump

-- (bump@bump.bump), September 20, 2004.

Dear Rookie: You made a good effort to rationalize the current standards of political correctness to your class. In the spirit of your collegiate indoctrination it becomes necessary to ''explain'' divine wisdom; why have women been relegated to secondary roles? Because; Mary was the Mother of God. We cut the image of man in two pieces. Male and female are blessed in somewhat different ways. After all, God would not discriminate, would He?

But God is not a servant of Diversity. He picks whom He wishes and loves all as they deserve to be loved. We know he loved the Blessed Virgin Mary, and yet she did not save us.

Christ is a male victim, as was the Paschal Lamb. Why must God compensate now, for giving a male leadership over his people? Adam was created and then his helpmate. Diversity wasn't served in Genesis. God loves all mankind, male as well as female.

It is we, in this politicized age, who divide them into big and little. Not God.

We are to accept His divine Will. Women are not ''entitled'' to ordination. Neither for that matter are men. God chooses whom He will call to the holy priesthood. He found me unsuitable. (And apparently you; I'm assuming you are a man). No one who wasn't called can be a priest, man or woman. That's what you should teach your class.

-- eugene c. chavez (loschavez@pacbell.net), September 20, 2004.

That is a beautiful presentation. Indeed, God did not divide and say which is small and which is greater between men and women. Its men who in all their pride (in-humility) choose to politisize the gender.

Lovely thoughts. THanks!

-- Cool Lie Yeah (coolieyeah@yahoo.com), September 21, 2004.

From ancient times (you've read the early Church Fathers right?) Christian preachers have made the parallel between Adam and Eve and Jesus and Mary.... they are parallels and mirrors of each other. Prototypes leading to the real deals...

For example: only when Adam sinned did the HUMAN race "fall" or fail, not when Eve sinned. And thus, the Human race was redeemed not when Mary was conceived immaculate but when Jesus died on the Cross.

Each part has its place and purpose. Because the eye does not have the same place and purpose of the ear doesn't mean it's superior or inferior. But unfortunately many people try to claim that absolute equality of place and purpose is needed for "equality" of dignity!

Man and Woman are different - physically and spiritually. Different places and purposes, but equal in dignity before God.

Because the human race fell through the man, Adam, only another man, Jesus could pay the price for this sin....but insofar as the first man was preceeded in sin by a woman, Eve, so too, Jesus was preceeded (in time) by the woman, Mary who did not disobey God but perfectly obeyed him.

So the circle, once broken was restored in the same order. Men and women have different places and purposes but share in the same joy and dignity of being honored children of the Father in Heaven.

-- Joe (Joestong@yahoo.com), September 21, 2004.