December 26, 2011

Theotokos


During the last part of the Advent season, as I awaited the coming of Jesus at Christmas, I was struck by one of the titles of Mary, the mother of God.

Theotokos is her Greek title, and it is translated as "God-bearer". It's actually a compound made up of two Greek words, Θεός  God and τόκος parturition, childbirth, so a more precise translation would be "the one who gives birth to the one who is God". Church fathers used this title as far back as the third century A.D.

But Mary no longer exists in human form on earth today. As the mother of the Church (which Jesus implied from the cross when he told his beloved disciple "Behold thy mother"), she has passed on this responsibility to us.

This is something I've been "pondering in my heart". How am I doing at being a God-bearer to those I come in contact with each day?

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15 comments:

  2. Thanks for listing Succinctly Yours. Could you change the link to

    http://grandmas-goulash.info/category/succinctly-yours/

    This will insure that visitors for the meme will always go directly to it.

    Thanks.

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  3. I'm stopping by from the Monday Mingle hop. I've started following your blog via GFC.

    Visit my blog: here

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  4. I think about this too. How am I birthing Christ to those in my world?

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  5. followed you from Monday hop,

    follow back when you get a chance

    http://daddywaddyweeviews.blogspot.com/

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  6. A great question to ponder!

    Visiting you from SDG
    Glad I came by to see a new face;)

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  7. Good thoughts. Good question to ask myself daily. We are the Light, because we bear the Light within us. May it be seen and glorify God.

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  8. A great question for all who follow Christ. May our words, actions, thoughts reflect our Savior.

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  9. the translation is very interesting. Thanks for linking up at Tuesdays Gone.

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  10. Those are the words that stand out to me, too ..... pondering things quietly in my heart. I'm a TYPE A, loud kind of gal, and I'm trying to be able to quietly witness, like Mary.

    Stopping by from Spiritual Snippets .... Saints and Scripture Sunday is back up .... stop by when you have a chance!

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  11. I too pondered how best to serve the Lord I love in 2012. How grateful I am that I can read excellent posts like yours that help all of us remember what our priorities should be in Christ. Blessings.

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  12. The Russians call Mary Богородице дева/ Bogoroditse Dyeva/ God-birther Maiden (virgin).

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  13. Mary..our Mother..thank you for your fiat! I am your newest follower..pls folow back if you can!

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  14. A good question to ponder. My desire is to give Christ to the world I touch.

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  15. This is a good reminder that we are Jesus' representatives here on earth. We need to represent Him well.
    New Year Blessings,
    Charlotte

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