The Mother of God
Num 6:22-27; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21
“You gave birth to
him who made you, and you remain a virgin forever” (divine Office)
At the
Council of Ephesus (451), the mother of Jesus was solemnly proclaimed the Mother
of God or Theotokos, acknowledging the Godhead of her Son, Jesus Christ.
Under this noble title, she is still honored by most Christians worldwide. Today’s
feast invites us to place our hopes and plans for the new-starting year under
her motherly care. We can entrust to her our concerns and those of our era, the
conflicts, the glaring injustices, and peace in our world.
Mother
Mary was the handmaid of the Lord, trusting in Providence and sustained by the
goodness of God. Indeed, she stands out among the Lord’s anawim, the
humble hearts who confidently trust that God has everything in hand (Lumen
Gentium 55). St Augustine says, “She conceived Jesus in her heart before
conceiving him in her womb.” The gospel of John presents her at the beginning
and the end of Christ’s public life. John is the only one to record Mary’s
presence at Calvary, “Near the cross of Jesus” (Jn 19:25).
When
all the miracles of Jesus seemed a delusion to many, his mother stood there
faithful to him to his last breath believing in God’s power. Her faith did not
need astounding miracles but rested on childlike trust in the mysterious ways
of God our Father. Jesus said to John, “Behold your Mother.” The mother of
Jesus henceforth is the mother of all his disciples, sharing her strong and
simple faith. Mother Mary marveled and treasured the events of Jesus’ birth in
her memory. She pondered them in her heart. She pondered what the Almighty had
done for her and all people. She pondered in response to what the simple and
humble shepherds said, “Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to
you; he is Christ the Lord.” It is this good news that she treasured in her heart.
The
same gospel has come to us, and we are invited to treasure it, ponder it, and
respond to it, as Mary did. Today, New Year’s Day is a day when many feel drawn
to make good resolutions. What better New Year’s resolution could we make today
than adopting Mary’s stance before the grace of God? Today’s feast invites us
to share Mary’s sense of awe and wonder before God’s merciful love, made known
to us in Christ, her son. As we look towards the new year, we ask Mary to help
us to treasure the gospel as she did, so that Christ might come to others
through us as he came to us through Mary. Amidst all the problems, we now enter
this new year of 2025 with a sense of wonder and trust.
“Even when the Word takes a body from Mary, the Trinity
remains a Trinity, with neither increase nor decrease. It is forever perfect”
(Divine Office)
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