INTERNATIONAL MARIAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE DAYTON OHIO, USA PONTIFICAL THEOLOGICAL FACULTY MARIANUM ROME, ITALY Mary’s Mission at the Foot of the Cross of Jesus in John 19:25-28a; in light of Isaac’s role in the Narrative of Abraham in Genesis 22:1-19 A Thesis in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Licentiate of Sacred Theology with Specialization in Marian Studies Directed by: Rev. Bertrand Buby, S.M., S.T.D. Kyoung-Hee Michaela Kim, S.I.H.M. International Marian Research Institute University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio, U.S.A. August 17, 2017 Nihil obstat: Gloria Falcão Dodd, STD Vidimus et approbamus: Bertrand A. Buby S.M., STD – Director Sebastian Abalodo, S.M., STD – Examinator Daytonesis (USA), ex aedibus International Marian Research Institute, et Romae, ex aedibus Pontificiae Facultatis Theologicae Marianum, die 14 September 2017. Table of Contents Précis .............................................................................................................. iv Introduction ................................................................................................... 1 Status Questionis ........................................................................................... 2 Methodology .................................................................................................. 4 Chapter one: Isaac’s Role in the Narrative of Abraham in Genesis 22:1-19 ................................................................................................... 8 1.1. Introduction ........................................................................................ 8 1.1.1. The Nature and Object of the Narrative of Abraham ................................... 8 1.1.2. Methodology for the Narrative of Abraham ................................................. 9 1.1.3. The scope and location of Genesis 22:1-19 ................................................ 10 1.2. Isaac’s role in Genesis 11:27-25:11 ................................................. 12 1.2.1. Isaac in the foregoing contexts (Genesis 11:27-21:34) of Genesis 22:1-19 12 1.2.2. Isaac in the context after of Genesis 22 (Genesis 22:20-25:11) ................. 17 1.2.3. Isaac in the Genesis 22:1-19 ....................................................................... 19 1.2.3.1. Texts of Genesis 22:1-19 ......................................................................... 19 1.2.3.2. Commentary on the texts related to Isaac: Genesis 22:1-8: Preparatory of the sacrifice of Isaac ................................................................................................ 20 1.2.3.3. Analysis of Genesis 22:9-14: sacrifice of Isaac ....................................... 24 1.2.3.4. Analysis of Genesis 22:15-19: result of sacrifice .................................... 27 i 1.3. Isaac’s role in Genesis 22:1-19 ........................................................ 29 1.3.1. Isaac: the meaning of life of Abraham and a witness of the faith of Abraham 29 1.3.2. Isaac: the link to the history of salvation and a witness of God’s justice ... 30 1.3.3. Isaac: a key cooperator in history between God and Abraham .................. 31 Conclusion .................................................................................................... 32 Chapter two: Mary’s Role in the Crucifixion in John 19:25-28a ..35 Introduction ................................................................................................. 35 2.1. Analysis of the context: John 19:25-28a ........................................ 37 2.1.1. Mary in the theological themes of the Fourth Gospel ................................ 37 2.1.2. The Analysis of John 19:25-28a ................................................................. 44 2.2. Marian perspectives in John 19:25-28a ......................................... 55 2.2.1. Mary in the Christological Perspective: a witness ...................................... 55 2.2.1.1. Mary’s witness to Jesus............................................................................ 56 2.2.1.2. Mary, a witness of God’s justice and mercy ............................................ 59 2.2.1.3. Mary, a visible witness of the Holy Spirit ............................................... 61 2.2.2. Mary in Spiritual and Ecclesial Perspectives ............................................. 63 2.2.2.1. Gift: God’s gift given by a grace ............................................................. 64 2.2.2.2. A Bridge: Spiritual Maternity and Mediation .......................................... 65 2.2.2.3. Blessing for the disciples ......................................................................... 69 ii 2.2.3. Mary in anthropological aspect .................................................................. 70 2.2.3.1. Active involvement in the history of salvation ........................................ 70 2.2.3.2. Perfect disciple: a model of faith, hope, and love .................................... 72 2.2.3.3. The entire consecration with immolation with Jesus ............................... 74 Conclusion .................................................................................................... 77 Chapter three: Similarities of Isaac’s Role and Mary’s Mission ...79 3.1. The meaning of typology...................................................................... 79 3.1.1. Isaac and Jesus ............................................................................................ 81 3.1.2. Mary and Abraham ..................................................................................... 82 3.2. Typological relationship between Mary and Isaac in their mission 85 3.2.1. A witness of God ........................................................................................ 86 3.2.2. A link of salvation....................................................................................... 90 3.2.3. Model of People of God in faith, obedience, love, and discipleship .......... 95 Conclusion ......................................................................................... 103 Bibliography ...................................................................................... 106 iii Précis The Second Vatican Council’s proclamation of Mary as our mother and model is a special gift for today’s Church. The Church also invites people of God to receive Mary as our spiritual mother in the Christian life. The mother of Jesus has been discovered in her role and mission from the Scriptures and in current Catholic teachings. The Vatican II stresses Mary’s closeness with us in our Christian life as well as her unique and excellent role in the mystery of Christ and the Church. Her Mission is continuously being enacted in Christians who believe in God’s grace and mercy in Mary. The Scriptures proclaims Mary’s significance as our mother and model in light of insights of each evangelist. Especially, the Fourth Gospel conveys the importance of her mission as a witness, a link, and a model. Chapter eight of Lumen Gentium presents the preparation of her mission from the Old Covenant. Her role is prefigured as a symbol, figures, and events in the Old Testament. The Church recognized her mission was prepared from the beginning of the salvation of humankind. This thesis tries to approach a deeper understanding of her mission in the Church through the study of Isaac and his role in the Old Covenant. In particular, the mother of Jesus has a special role in the history of salvation related to the mission of all Christians. It is valuable to pursue a study on the comparison between the role of Isaac in the Old Covenant and the mission of Mary in the Fourth Gospel for understanding their similar contribution in the history of salvation. It will help Christians who are living a faith life accomplish the same mission as both Isaac and Mary achieved in the history of salvation. This thesis presents the mission of Mary compared with that of Isaac through the analysis of the context of Genesis 22:1-19 in the narrative of Abraham and that of John iv 19:25-28a in John’s Gospel. Both events are a climax in Old and New Covenant in their serious and theological significance in the entire history of salvation. Both roles are related to our mission in the Church. As a witness, a spiritual mother, and a model, the mother of Jesus actively served in the work of salvation both in the world and in the Church. Mary at the foot of the Cross contributes to this great mission and will serve it continuously in and with Jesus. In chapter one, the narrative of Abraham is introduced with the Covenant between Abraham and God. One of the promises of the Covenant is the promise of Isaac and Abraham’s descendants. It shows the importance of Isaac in Abraham’s life and God’s Covenant. Through the methodology of narrative analysis, Isaac and his role are discovered in the overview of the entire story of Abraham from his call to the climactic event on Mount Moriah. The additional explanation seen in the scope of the entire context and research about the event on Mount Moriah is included in this chapter. For a better understanding of Genesis 22:1-19, the preliminary readings before chapter 22 and the chapter after the stories are to be understood. Then, through the simple analysis of the text related to Isaac (Genesis 22:1-19), the integral summarization of his role in the Old Covenant and salvation history is presented. In chapter two, the mother of Jesus at the foot of the Cross is described in the light of the theological insights of the evangelist of