"The nature of sin is not immorality and wrongdoing, but the nature of self-realization which leads us to say, "I am my own god." This nature may exhibit itself in proper morality or in improper immorality, but it always has a common basis - my claim to my right to myself. When Our Lord faced people, He paid no attention to the moral degradation of one nor any attention to the moral attainment of another. He looked at something we do not see, namely, the nature of man."
(My Utmost For His Highest, 2008 edition)
It is unfortunate that we often equate Christianity not with devotion to Jesus, but with outward manifestations of conventional morality. This is especially true when it comes to women, as religion has been used to control women's behavior for as long as there has been religion.
Isn't it amazing that while we may be swayed by what we think is moral or immoral, Jesus never is? Jesus never scorns the depraved, nor is He impressed by the scrupulously religious. His love and praise for Mary is based not upon her conduct or social status, but upon her total devotion to Him. And her devotion to Him is based upon her grasp of the truth - that He is her Savior, the One who will deliver humanity from original sin.
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