"And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us"
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010123.cfm
There is something in human nature that appreciates a reward or recognition for a job well done. Some enjoy titles or accolades, degrees, positions of honor and authority, etc that place them in the public eye. We must be cautious about those who seek such honors and pray that are not placed in authority over us. Jesus himself warned about this tendency in which the central focus was placed on the person themselves rather than on the one who bestowed the honorific on them.
While this may be true in our flawed human nature, when
speaking of Mary of Nazareth, the chosen human mother of the Christ, we remark
that her life was filled with grace, humility, and pureness of intention. Today, on this first day of the new calendar
year 2023, the Church presents the mother of Jesus honored with quite a title,
the “Mother of God.”
However, does God have a mother? Without reflection on the meaning of this
title, one of many given to Mary, some are inclined to outright reject this honor
as unnecessary. How can God have a
mother? Well, in the case of Mary we can
confidently say “Yes” but not in the biological sense. Mary is neither divine nor would she ever
seek honors or special titles. It is
clear from the scriptures that her purity and humility would not seek
such. She is as human as any of us with
the exception of a singular grace given to her at the moment of her
conception.
But “Mother of God” implies something about her son. As we hear in the letter to the Galatians
today, St. Paul writes: “When the
fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman . . . “(Gal 4:4).
Therefore, the son which Mary conceived is both of human
and divine origin. As a human, Jesus
would have gotten his DNA from his human mother and likely would have born some
of her physical features. How often do
we try to see in the face of a child some similar trait that reflects the
father or mother? “You favor your mother’s
side of the family” or “I can see you are a Jones.” Haven’t you said such a thing?
So, this Son of the almighty Father, “God from God and
light from light,” as we proclaim in the Creed each Sunday, broke through to our
space and time and took on his human nature through the power of the Holy Spirit
and from his own mother. Mary can
rightly be called then the “mother of God” for her Son is God himself.
So, this beautiful beginning of the new year reminds us
that the child born in Bethlehem, who came to rescue us from the power of
darkness, indeed became incarnate out of love and calls us to allow him to be born
in our own hearts and lives. Thus, his mother Mary is honored because of the
child she bore and the faithfulness she models for us all.
In our Gospel today, Mary is noted as a woman of silence,
response and reflection. As all the
related events swirled around her and Joseph, she took them to her heart and
mind for reflection. As we read: “Mary
kept all these things, reflecting upon them in her heart . . .” (Lk: 2: 16 ff). Mary wondered what this all means. What
is God asking of me? Who is this child and what is his destiny? Where do I continue to fit in to all this
wonder and what would be my mission?
We can only speculate what thoughts went through the
heart of Mary, but the scriptures make clear that she must have stood before God
in wonder and quiet contemplation. Most
likely Joseph himself must have considered such questions along with his wife.
The model for us would be to add more quiet time to your
life. Take some time and stop rushing
through the day. Listen to the Lord in
prayer and seek from him what is your mission and how do you figure in his
grand plan for your life.
I truly believe that the brief time given after the
reception of Holy Communion at Mass would be a wonderful time to not only give
thanks for who has come to you but to also ponder where God is calling you and
for what greater purpose. To be with Mary
at that moment.
Such brief prayer can lead to longer periods of time in
prayer and especially before the Holy Eucharist in adoration.
So, all that being said, a very Happy and blessed New Year
for 2023.
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