THEME: MARY, MOTHER OF GOD
READINGS: Numbers 6:22-27 / Galatians 4:4-7/ Luke 2:16-21
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
The Jews had the custom of naming a child a week after his/her birth (cf. Luke 1:59). In this respect, the First of January (a week after Christmas) marks the naming of the new-born King as ‘Jesus’ (Luke 2:21). Now, naming ceremonies are often occasions to congratulate the parents (especially the mothers) of the babies. Therefore, as a Church, we have set aside today to congratulate the mother of Jesus, by honouring her with the title, ‘Mother of God’.
It is noteworthy that long before the Church honoured St. Mary with the title of ‘Mother of God’, the Holy Spirit had revealed to St. Elizabeth that the Blessed Virgin was the Mother of our Lord. Is it not amazing that St. Elizabeth got this revelation even before the visiting St. Mary could tell her what the angel Gabriel had said? Indeed, at the instance of the greeting of the young Blessed Virgin who even then had no external sign of pregnancy, St. Elizabeth could exclaim: ‘why is it that the Mother of my Lord should come to me’ (Luke 1:43)!
Moreover, Jesus, whom Mary gave birth to, is not simply our Lord; He is also our God. Remember the confession of the converted doubting Thomas. He exclaimed when he saw the risen Jesus ‘My Lord and my God’ (John 20:28)! That Jesus Christ is God is evident in many other New Testament passages. Let me refer to only the first chapter of St. John’s Gospel. This is the testimony of St. John: ‘In the beginning was the Word [Christ] and the Word [Christ] was with God. And the Word [Christ] was God’ (John 1:1). But then at the appointed time, in order to save us, ‘the Word [Christ] became flesh [man] and dwelt among us’ (John 1:14) through conception and birth by the Blessed Virgin Mary (Gal. 4:4-7). It follows that if Jesus Christ is God and St. Mary is his mother, then Mary could be referred to as the ‘Mother of God’.
Some still get confused when we call St. Mary the ‘Mother of God’. Therefore, it has to be clarified that when we use the title, ‘Mother of God’, we are not saying that St. Mary gave birth to the Son of God before the world was created. Rather, what we mean is that when the eternal Son of God was to become man, it was Mary who conceived and gave birth to him. Thus, St. Mary is honoured with the title of ‘Mother of God’, because of who Jesus Christ is. On the other hand, since Mary is human, this title informs us that our Saviour, though divine, became truly human (cf. Phil. 2:5-11).
- May the Lord, who though divine became human, bless us with his power as God! Amen!
- May Christ, who though rich (as God) became poor (as human), enrich and prosper us throughout the New Year! Amen!
- May Jesus, who gave us his mother ( John 19:26-27), favour us throughout the New Year, at the intercession of his mother (cf. John 2:1-11)! Amen!
Have a Happy New Year!
By Very Rev. Fr. John Louis
