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

January 1, 2021

 

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:

Today we celebrate the Motherhood of Mary as Mother of God (Theotokos)).  “Since Mary is Jesus’ mother, it must be concluded that she is also the Mother of God: If Mary is the mother of Jesus, and if Jesus is God, then Mary is the Mother of God. There is no way out of this logical syllogism” ((https://www.catholic.com/tract/mary-mother-of-god).  What a special privilege; it is only once in a lifetime and it cannot be repeated.  Mary was the privileged vessel of the Son of God, and it cannot be taken away from her, for she was the chosen one, the favored one of God the Father.   “The feast is a celebration of Mary being the mother of Jesus. The English title "Mother of God" is a literal translation of the Latin title Mater Dei, which in turn is a rendering of the Greek title Θεοτόκος (Theotokos), meaning "Bearer of God" dogmatically adopted by the First Council of Ephesus (431) as an assertion of the divinity of Christ” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solemnity_of_Mary,_Mother_of_God). Nowadays, many among Christians do not regard Mary as Mother of God, but by the mother of Jesus, a human being like us, for them Jesus is not God.  But the Catholic Church since the Council of Ephesus in 431 already defended and stood about motherhood of Mary for it was to Jesus, Son of God, this honor referred to.  Jesus is God. And Mary, Mother of Jesus who is God, therefore Mary is the Mother of God (in the Second Person of the Holy Trinity).

And she, Mary, gave birth to her firstborn Son, Jesus, in a manger for there was no available room in the inns.  On that great and wonderful night, suddenly the angel of God appeared and proclaimed to the “shepherds in the locality, living in the fields and keeping night watch by turns over their flocks, the good news of salvation for all humankind was announced to them. To the shepherds the good news was announced and proclaimed.  “The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in a manger” (Luke 2: 16).  The shepherds after hearing the glad tidings from the angel, left some of their companions and the flock, and went in a hurry to see whether what the angel said to them was true.  And truly, they found the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary and the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

The shepherds saw all the things said by the angel.  With delightful hearts and souls they told those who were present how they learned about the birth of the Savior who is Messiah and Lord in the city of David.  “When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.  All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds” (Luke 2: 17-18).  They told them what the angel announced to them, that the angel came “to proclaim good news to you – tidings of great joy to be shared by the whole people.  This day in David’s city a savior has been born to you, the Messiah and Lord.  Let this be a sign to you: in the manger you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes” (cf. Luke 2: 1-14).  They saw and it was true.  Those present when they heard what the shepherds told them were amazed and gave praise to God.

As a new and inexperienced mother, Mary attentively listened to all the things that said about her son, from the annunciation of the Angel Gabriel that she was chosen mother of the Son of God, then when she visited her cousin Elizabeth and she greeted her, and her soul was magnified the Lord, up to the proclamation of the angel of God to the shepherds with regards to the infant wrapped in swaddling clothes. As a mother, “And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart” (Luke 2: 19).  All these things Mary kept and reflected them in her heart.  Nothing escaped in her open-minded and heartfelt and cheerful heart, nothing was lost in every detail of the events that happened from the beginning of the annunciation up to giving birth to her son.

After witnessing the truth about the good news of the birth of the Messiah and Lord, the shepherds went back to their sheep praising and glorifying God for they now see the salvation from this new born child.  “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).  While returning to the fields in their flock, because of their loud rejoicing, glorifying and praising God, they also attracted people still awoke on that evening in the city of David and announced also with them the good news and everyone who heard the news was amazed and went haze to see the child in the manger.  And they were also rejoiced and gladdened by what they saw.

On the eight day, according to the law of God, that is, “Every first-born male shall be consecrated to the Lord” (cf. Exodus 13:2), they brought the infant to present to the Lord and to circumcise as a covenant between man and God. “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). They also brought a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons in exchange of the child offered to God, in accord with the dictate in the law of the Lord.