What grounds do we have for believing the Theotokos is quiet and âniceâ and passive?
She is used as a weapon against women who question, women who complain, women who are critical. But there really is no evidence that this is appropriate in the slightest.
At the beginning of her story, we hear her directly questioning a messenger of God. âHow can this be?â She doesnât just put her head down and bat her eyelashes like Bambi, she challenges him, because what she is being told does not make logical sense.
She offers her consent which means that she assumes and understands that her consent is required and important. She doesnât just quietly sit with her hands folded and wait to see what happens, she takes ownership of the moment.
She offers not only a song of praise but a lot of theological opinions in her Magnificat. She does not clam up and leave the heavy lifting of thoughts about God to the men and the scholars.
At Cana she pushes Christ to act even though âthe hour has not yet arrived.âÂ
She is present at the cross. She is present with the disciples in the upper room. Sheâs not the little old lady who keeps to herself, she is in the middle of the birth of the church.
In the akathist, one of the most ancient sources we have about her, she is referred among many other appellations as the âwoman who persuaded even the just judge.â She is described as persistent, relentless, maybe even headstrong in her advocacy for those who appeal to her for help.
She is a good mother, alright. She is tough, she is confident, she is protective, she is fearless.
Iâm not getting âquiet and avoids swearsâ anywhere from this, at all.