Eve was meant to be the mother of all the living.
The man called his wife Eve,
because she became the mother of all the living.
Yet because of sin she became the mother of the spiritually dead. All subsequent generations would feel the effects of that sin. Every individual born of Adam and Eve shared in their weakness. They had been given the privilege to pass on blessings to future generations. But instead they passed on a curse. Fortunately, God knew how they would misuse the freedom he gave them. He always had the plan for our restoration in his heart.
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will strike at your head,
while you strike at his heel.
Not for a single fraction of a moment did God consider the plan for our redemption apart from Mary. He always knew that it would be Mary and her seed who would finally strike the head of the serpent. Jesus was the source of that victory. But Jesus came to us in no other way but through Mary. He preserved her from the curse of Eve in order that she could freely assent to God's will in order to undo the disobedience of Eve. In redeeming us God did more than merely start over fresh. He got to the very root of the problem and transformed it. He did not simply ignore the disobedience of Adam and Eve. He himself as well as Mary both had their obedience tested in much the same way as Adam and Eve. But with the grace and truth that Jesus brought into the world they both were able to succeed.
It is not just Mary and Jesus to whom this lofty destiny pertains. It is all of us.
to be holy and without blemish before him.
It is not simply that Mary is conceived without sin so that we can live sinful lives and yet enter heaven someday. Mary's wholeness is a gift for all of us. She is immaculately conceived so that we can be immaculately transformed.
In him we were also chosen,
destined in accord with the purpose of the One
who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,
so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,
we who first hoped in Christ.
It delighted God to use a creature as an instrument of our redemption. He humbled the proud demonic hosts by making the humble virgin the one through whom his victory began. We learn through Mary exactly how we ourselves are called to respond in order to share in that victory.
Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word."
Then the angel departed from her.
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