Mary and the First Universal Incarnation
Christian tradition needed a feminine symbol for divine incarnation, even if it wasn’t always intentional. The presence of Mary fulfills that role—not as a historical elevation of a minor New Testament figure, but as a response to a deeper spiritual need. Mary became the archetype that held space for receptivity, compassion, and embodied wisdom. Mary became the symbol of the first universal incarnation. She doesn’t distract from the Christ mystery; she reveals it in a different form. She symbolizes the first incarnation, creation itself, and opens the door to an inclusive understanding of God. Her yes matters. Through her image, art, and titles, there is a reminder that incarnation involves both giving and receiving. This yes is invited in each of us, grounded in awareness and response.
May we honor the sacred yes within us,
as Mary did, bearing the presence
of divine incarnation into the world.
(inspired by Richard Rohr, The Universal Christ)