Num. 6: 22-27; Ps.67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Gal. 4:4-7; Lk. 2:16-21
Why the Mother of God? This is the question we get asked as Catholics. Mary is just the mother of Jesus we are told. This is the question that is often raised by our protestant brothers and sisters. Mary is the mother of God because we believe in one God in three persons. The mystery of the Trinity is that there is but one God in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus lets his disciples know that in seeing him they see God. What more explanation do we need? The argument continues “but Mary is the creature and God the creator, how can Mary be before the creator?” Mary is the creature in who God the creator chose to become incarnate and become visible for our salvation. He who is and always will be chose Mary as the vessel to manifest his infinite glory. Mary is thus both the Mother of God and Mother of the Church.
Mary as a Jew received the blessing of the Israelites as we hear it from Elizabeth “blessed are you among women” for the Lord’s face shines upon her with kindness and peace to bear “God’s son born of a woman”. For this reason, we also say to pray to Jesus through Mary. If Jesus is our brother who intercedes for us to the Father, then Mary is our mother. The maternal love of a mother always points us to do the will of her son just as she responded at the wedding of Cana with the words “do whatever he tells you”. A mother’s love always seeks mercy for her children but she also seeks obedience to the father.
In baptism we are his adopted sons and daughters. This raises the question then “if it takes baptism to become children of God, what are we before baptism?” We are God’s creation that is creatures of God with a soul in need of a Father, Mother and brother. Often the general assumption is made that just by being born we are “children of God”. All creation belongs to God but baptism makes us reborn of spirit and truth, adopted sons and daughters, temples of the Holy Spirit to share in his divinity. Baptism is the gate to heaven and to the kingdom of God given to us by Jesus as he commanded his disciples to go and baptize “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” for our salvation.
What was the message given by the angel to the shepherds we hear in the gospel today. It was the message they had been waiting for that this child was to be the “savior, the messiah” who has come to free us. Jesus was born during the reign of Ceasar Agustus who was seen as a “god” who was the savior bringing peace to the region. The world then expected a new king to come and rule over them. They had no idea the type of king that was born to Mary. A king both human and divine bringing freedom of sin through mercy and love. Not exactly what they were hoping for and for this reason in the end they all cried out “crucify him”.
Today the God of mercy and of peace offers us a different world in the midst sin, war, crime, and hate. It is a world of his love and peace. It is transformative when we choose good over evil, when we seek virtue over indulgence, when we show mercy over vengeance. It is a call to live the word made flesh that is to put on Jesus and let him rule over us. Through faith we receive power, through suffering we receive redemption, through death comes the resurrection and through judgment a new majesty.
What New Year’s resolution will we make this year that we will soon be forgotten? Is it to improve our health, improve our relationships, work to reach a financial goal? Usually, we focus on what is temporary and forget the eternal. We are to resolve to prepare ourselves for eternity, for a closer walk with Jesus, for spiritual growth and understanding and to be all that Jesus is calling us to be. We don’t want to just reach for the stars we want to reach for heaven. There is no place like home and home is where God is. God is with us, welcome home. Happy New Year!
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