Jan. 1st Mary Mother of God

Today, we celebrate with great joy, the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. Due to the Nestorian heresy, which denied the divinity of Jesus, the Council of Ephesus in 431 dogmatically declared Mary, as the Mother of God. The council said, “…we confess the holy virgin to be the Mother of God because God the Word took flesh and became man and from his very conception united to himself the temple he took from her.”

When the dogma was proclaimed, it helped to better define who Jesus is. That He has two natures, both human and divine, and yet Jesus is only one person and Mary is the Mother of the person of Jesus. This does not mean that Mary is divine nor does it means that She created Jesus in Her womb. No, rather all it means is that Jesus is God and Mary is His Mother.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, states, “The one to whom She conceived as man by the Holy Spirit, who truly became Her Son according to the flesh, was none other than, the Father’s eternal Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity. Hence, the Church confesses that Mary is truly Mother of God.”

After the angel Gabriel departed at Mary’s annunciation, She went in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth who was with child and upon entering the home of her Her cousin, Elizabeth cried out, “Who am I, that the Mother of my Lord should come to me?” For at the moment of your greeting, the child in my womb, leapt for joy.” Here Elizabeth acknowledges the Son in Mary’s womb is the Lord, who is God.

In the Gospel today, we heard the night of Jesus’ birth, the shepherds, who watched over their flocks, came upon Mary, His Mother, with Joseph, and the Infant lying in the manger. They too gazed upon the face of God, as a little Child, as Jesus “shed His face upon them, and was gracious to them.”

At the time of Jesus, shepherds were considered ignorant, poor and dirty outcasts. Many lived out in the open and not in homes. Some believe the shepherds presented the Holy Family with gifts such as curds and milk. They were struck with awe and wonder and what the angels had told them, that they would find a Child lying in the manger, who will be their savior, who is Christ the Lord. They must have wondered, how is it--that a child who is to be savior and who is the Christ, would be born in similar circumstances in which they lived. When Jesus as God, first makes Himself known to the world at His birth, He does so-- with His Mother Mary and He does so--- with people who were considered outcasts.

Later in Mary’s life, a woman in the crowd cried out, “Blessed is the womb, who bore you, and the woman, who nursed you!” Mary was blessed, because, as His Mother, She carried Him in Her womb, gave birth to Him, and held the baby Jesus in Her arms! She was blessed because She adored the face of God, kissed His chubby cheeks, touched His tiny nose, and grasped His little fingers, nursed Him, bathed Him, and changed His diapers.

At the Cross, when Jesus said, “Woman behold thy Son and Son behold thy Mother!”-- it is then that all of us became Her children. At the foot of the Cross, John took Mary into His home. Our Lord revealed Himself--- with His Mother Mary, as the Christ, and Savior at His birth-- to poor outcast shepherds, at their temporary home-- in the stable. And since Our Lord providentially wanted His Mother at the foot of the Cross at His death, then He wants us to know that Mary is our Mother too--- from our birth to our death. He wants us to be like John and to take Mary into our home and to make Her our Mother.

Have we taken Mary into our home and into our heart? Do we approach Her, as our Mother, and ask Her to obtain everything we need?

While scripture and tradition is important, we truly need to have a personal friendship with Mary, as our Mother. We should pray the rosary every day, but also speak personal words to Her. Do we talk to Her, ask Her intercession, and address Her—as—Mother? For example, if we struggle, with particular sins, we should pray, “O Mother in heaven, help me to overcome the sin that I struggle with the most. I believe you are the refuge of poor sinners. Or we can say to Her, “O Mother Mary, when I am lonely or saddened, please console me. Or—“Mother Mary, when I am in pain, help me to suffer for Jesus, as you suffered for Him! Or we can say to Mary, “Please O Mother turn your eyes of mercy upon me and hear my prayers. I am in great need. Do not abandon me your little child! And Most importantly--- my Mother Mary, help me to get to heaven, when I stray-- bring me back, when I fall--- pick me up, when I am lost-- please find me and when I need a Mother, let me know you are there!”

Today, each and everyone one us, no matter age, young or old, should call upon Mary, as our Mother. If She is the Mother of outcast shepherds, then surely, She is also the mother of all of us sinners, who are mothers, fathers, grandparents, children, teachers, farmers, ranchers, ordinary workers, (bankers, lawyers, doctors, nurses). In short, She is the Mother of all of us. “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”