Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God (ABC)

January 1, 2020

Readings:

First Reading: Numbers 6: 22-27

Psalm 67 “May God bless us in his mercy.”

Second Reading: Galatians 4: 4-7 

Gospel reading according to Luke 2: 16-21

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Homily:

There is no other woman in the whole world, past, present and in the future, like Mary chosen by God to become Mother of God (Theotokos), our Lord Jesus Christ.  Because Jesus is God, the Second Person in One God, who becomes like us except sin, so it is God's will and by nature that Mary is the Mother of God.  And Mary is venerated (not worship), given highest honor (hyperdulia) because of his Son, Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man (of Mary).

When the Son of God was born in our midst, a group, or let us say humanity, to be the first to hear the good and glad tidings was the shepherds tending their flocks in the field near Bethlehem.  The angel of the Lord appeared and announced to them the birth of the new born king wrapped in the swaddling clothes and lying in the manger.  Not only one angel but a multitude of angels appeared and sung: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to mankind of goodwill, while their surrounding was as bright as morning despite it was night, a holy night.  After hearing the good news, they left their sheep to one of their trusted companions and in haste went to the place where the babe of Bethlehem lying.  The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger (Luke 2: 16).  They found the family of Joseph in a cave where animals were kept in that evening, and they saw the infant lying in a manger with his mother, Mary.

The shepherds witnessed what was announced and proclaimed to them by the angel of the Lord, and they believed. They knelt down to worship the infant King and gave him homage.  Afterward they told (isinalaysay) what the angel of the Lord told them about the birth of the babe of Bethlehem.   When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about the child (Luke 2: 17).  The shepherds were excited to tell the story about the apparition of the angel and the multitude of other angels and how their surroundings became as bright as day and pronounced what the angel brought forth the good news and glad tidings – the birth of the Messiah, the King of Israel.

Those who were present there, when they heard what the shepherds told them about what the angel of the Lord said all were astounded. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds (Luke 2: 18), for in front of them is the truth and the evidence of the message of an angel.  Nobody can deny but rather accept what is presented and manifested to them here and now (of space and time).

Mary, the Mother of God who became man, was listening attentively to the story of the shepherds. Nothing escapes from the sharp ears of Mary.  And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart (Luke 2: 19).  She knew that the shepherds' story was true, for she herself experienced the apparition of the angel (Gabriel) and announced to her the good news of motherhood of the Son of God.  This also was written in her heart. Mary was an active listener.

The shepherds after experiencing the revelation by an angel went back to their companions and to their flock rejoicing, glorifying and praising God.  They were happy indeed of what they have heard and seen.  Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them (Luke 2: 20).  Afterwards, they reflected, recalled and discussed (shared) all that happened that night, they now know that salvation is at hand for their liberator is born in their midst. 

As a Jew and under the Law of Moses, Jesus underwent the traditional circumcision as purification and or cleansing and a sign of membership in the Jewish community. On the eight day, Jesus was brought by his foster father Joseph and his mother Mary to the temple for the traditional circumcision. When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb (Luke 2: 21).  After the rite of circumcision was finished, a name was given to him; and he was called Jesus.