Those Were the Days
"Mister we could use a man like Herbert Hoover again..."
So sang Archie & Edith. I was reminded of that song and its tuneful pining for the past while reading about Council of Ephesus, which said, in part, that Mary could rightly be called "Theotokos" or Mother of God. The titled was applied because the fullness of Christ's divinity was questioned by the Nestorians, but also due to tremendous "grass-root" desire. The masses of Christians at the time celebrated after Council, much as I would after an Ohio State national championship victory.
What is so striking is that I cannot imagine we modern grass roots Christians rising up and demanding something of a theologically disinterested nature. Some traditionalists are desirous of calling Mary Co-Mediatrix, so it's hardly unthinkable, but what are most laity demanding? A relaxation of the celibacy discipline. Allowance of artificial birth control. Women priests.
In other words, it's all about us. We as users of birth control, or we as women, or we as priests or potential priests.
There is something refreshing about the thought of those ealier Christians celebrating Mary's new name. They were thrilled for Mary, and her prestigious title, enough to carry the bishop on their shoulders as you would a conquering quarterback.
Mister, we could use a laity like that again.
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