Luke 2: 16-21
The Word: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010126.cfm
A blessed and happy new year to everyone. Coming on the heals of Christmas as we begin this new year, we are given by the Church not a resolution, not a prediction about the future, not plans for how we are to live our life. Instead, and rightly so, we are given a Mother who happens to be the Mother of our Savior who is God in the flesh, Jesus the Christ. In our Gospel for this Feast, the Church presents the humble shepherds to us who run to tell others about what and who they have seen and heard after their visit to the newborn child. They, like us, are called to be messangers of this Savior. Mary, reflected on the meaning of all these strange events. She: ". . . kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart." (Lk 2: 19).
Mary is then rightly referred to as the "Mother of God," since her son is divine. This is in no way an effort to raise Mary to equality with her God/man son but to exalt her as the one chosen by God to be the human instrument by which Jesus would enter the world. Not with fanfare or flashing lights; but quietly, discreetly simply slip in to human history. He was almost undercover for he did not come for a sentimental reason but to do battle with the forces of darkness, to suffer and die for us and to be raised, thereby breaking the shakles of sin and death for humanity. For those who believe, he promises us eternal life and the forgivenss of our sins.
This exalted honor for Mary was hammered out by the Council of Ephesus in Ephesus, Turkey in the year 431. So we are not talking about a new title for Mary but a very ancient one that has beautifully stood the test of time. In fact, when Mary came to her older cousin Elizabeth who was with child (Lk. 1: 39-56), Elizabeth said to Mary: "And why does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord comes to me?"
Elizabeth delcares that Mary is the mother of my "Lord" or "Adonai," which is the Jewish way of acknowledging God. She is the Mother of God, according to Elizabeth's inspired words. Also in the prayer the "Hail Mary," we pray: "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners . . ." What greater honor could have been bestowed on this young, lowly virgin girl from obscure Nazareth?
This Mother of God, the holy one, constantly points the way not to herself but to her son. This then is the Body of Christ, the Church, gathered in prayer and worship as we all work out our salvation through the merciful grace of God who is love, Mary becomes for us the model of Christian discipleship; showing us the way to her son, and becoming for all of us, a tender and loving mother who intercedes on our behalf and protects us, as any loving mother would do.
As we begin this new year of 2026, we have no idea what the next twelve months will bring. But, we can be assured that God does not change. That Mary loves her son with an indiscribible love and wants to lead us to him. Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
O God, who through the fruitful virginity
of Blessed Mary bestowed on the human race
the grace of eternal salvation,
grant that we may experience the
intercession of her, through whom we were found worthy
to receive the author of life,
our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity
of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever.
(Collect of Mass)
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