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Wednesday 1 January 2025- Solemnity of Mary Mother of God
Mass Readings: Num
6: 22-27 Ps 66 Gal 4:4-7
Lk 2:16-21
Key Verse to Meditate:
After eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was
called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
(Lk 2:21).
Dear Brothers and
Sisters in the Lord,
Happy New Year to All!
Today is the first day of
the year, and traditionally, this day is dedicated to the feast of Mary, Most
Holy Mother of God. This feast coincides with the eighth day after the birth of
Jesus, marked by His circumcision and the imposition of His name. The scriptural
background for today’s feast is drawn from the Gospel, which states: "When
the eight days were completed for His circumcision, He was named Jesus, the
name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb" (Lk 2:21).
The Holy Family was deeply committed to fulfilling the angel's command to name
the divine child “Jesus,” which means "God saves."
As we step into this New
Year, 2025, Holy Mother the Church, in her wisdom, invites us to begin the year
with a profound and significant feast-the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God.
This feast not only honors the Blessed Virgin Mary but also draws us deeper
into the mystery of our faith and the incarnation of Jesus Christ.
The Name of Jesus:
A Name Above All Names
On this day, we also
reflect on the name of Jesus, given to Him on the eighth day during His
circumcision, as per Jewish custom (Lk 2:21). The name Jesus-meaning “The Lord
saves”-was revealed to both Mary and Joseph before His conception (Lk 1:31; Mt
1:21).
This name carries divine
power and authority. St. Paul writes, “God has highly exalted Him and bestowed
on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every
knee should bow” (Phil 2:9-11). It is through this name that we are saved,
forgiven, and reconciled with God.
Jesus is the Lamb of God
who takes away the sins of the world (Jn 1:29) and the Word who became flesh
and dwelt among us (Jn 1:14). Mary, as the Theotókos, bore this Savior,
making her not just the Mother of Christ but also our spiritual mother. As
we begin this New Year, let us place our hope and trust in the name of Jesus.
Mary's Vocation as
the Mother of God
The feast of Mary as the
Mother of God, celebrated on the first day of the year, invites us to reflect
on the profound vocation bestowed upon her by God—not only as the Mother of
Jesus but also as the spiritual mother of all humanity. Through Mary, we encounter
God more intimately, rediscovering Him as our loving Father, merciful Savior,
and faithful Redeemer.
The opening prayer of
today’s Mass beautifully highlights Mary's universal motherhood within the
Church: “O God, who in the fruitful virginity of Mary gave humanity the gift of
eternal salvation, grant that we may experience her intercession, for through
her we have received the Author of Life, Christ your Son.” This prayer captures
the theological depth of Mary’s unique role in salvation history.
The Second Vatican
Council affirmed this truth by defining Mary as the "Mother of the
Church," a doctrinal declaration that enriches our understanding of her
role as Mother of God, or Theotokos. This title, conferred upon her at
the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD, played a pivotal role in resolving
significant theological debates of that era. The term Theotokos—meaning
"God-bearer"—asserts that Mary is indeed the mother of Jesus, who is
both fully divine and fully human.
Mary, Mother of
the Church
In giving birth to
Christ, the Head of the Mystical Body, Mary also gave birth to the Church and
became its Mother. Her maternal care extends to all who belong to the Body of
Christ. Just as a mother nurtures, sustains, and intercedes for her children, Mary
intercedes for us and leads us closer to her Son.
She is not merely a
figure of the past; she is an active presence in our lives, guiding us on our
journey of faith. She sustains us in our trials and joys, presenting our
petitions before her Son, Jesus. Through her maternal intercession, we find
strength and hope to persevere in our walk with God.
Mary, Mother of
God: A Singular Grace
The title Mary, Mother of
God (Theotókos) was formally defined at the Council of Ephesus in 431
AD. This title affirms that Mary is not just the mother of the human Jesus but
of the Divine Word made flesh—the second person of the Holy Trinity. The
Scriptures declare, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born
of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the
law, so that we might receive adoption as children” (Gal 4:4-5).
By this divine mystery,
God took on human nature through Mary, becoming fully human while remaining
fully divine. This privilege bestowed upon Mary-a gift beyond compare—was not
for her glorification alone but for the fulfilment of God’s redemptive plan.
Her willingness to say “Yes” (Lk 1:38) made her the vessel through which God
brought salvation to humanity.
Mary’s Role in the
Economy of Salvation
Mary’s role as Theotókos
highlights her unique cooperation in God’s salvific work. She was the first to
receive Jesus physically and spiritually and the first to experience His saving
grace. As the Co-Redemptrix, she participated in a singular way in the
redemptive mission of Christ.
Her motherhood a free
gift beyond compare transcends biology; it is a call to service, humility, and
unwavering faith. With her consent to God’s plan, she became a model for us
all—an example of perfect openness to the grace of God. The motherhood of Mary
was, above all, a free gift beyond compare, which immediately called her to be
totally open to the grace of God. With her "yes" (Lk 1:38), Mother
Mary cooperates with the salvific work of God.
Mother Mary Kept
Everything in Her Heart
One of the profound
reasons we venerate Mary as the Mother of God is her extraordinary ability to
treasure everything in her heart and reflect deeply on it (Lk 2:51). Today’s
Gospel portrays Mary, even from the moment of Jesus' birth, as a mother who responds
to the unfolding events around her with contemplative faith. She “treasured all
these words and pondered them in her heart” (Lk 2:19).
This depiction of Mary
reveals her unique spiritual depth and her unwavering openness to God’s will.
She becomes a model for us, inviting all her children to receive, cherish, and
meditate on the Word of God in the depths of our hearts. Through this silent,
prayerful pondering, we are called to discern God’s presence in the events of
our lives.
As we step into this new
year, Mary’s example calls us to prioritize meditation on the Word of God. By
imitating her practice of treasuring and reflecting on God’s words, we are
invited to bring the light of Scripture into every aspect of our lives. Mary,
whom we honor today as the Mother of God, teaches us to embrace every
moment—joyful, challenging, or ordinary—and to meditate on it in the light of
God’s Word.
In doing so, we open our
hearts to recognize God’s guiding hand and His loving smile in the events we
experience. May Mary’s maternal example inspire us to deepen our relationship
with God and to live this year with faith, reflection, and a renewed commitment
to His Word.
An Invitation to
Imitate Mary
Mary’s life invites us to
a profound obedience to God’s Word and submission to His will. She lived a life
of prayer, silence, and deep reflection, keeping and pondering God’s Word in
her heart (Lk 2:19, 51).
Her obedience and faith
remind us of the importance of meditating on Scripture. To bear fruit in the
life of grace, we must listen to God’s Word, accept His will, and act upon it,
no matter the cost. Let us strive to imitate Mary by saying “yes” to God daily
and trusting in His plan for our lives.
A New Year’s
Blessing in Christ
The first reading for
this solemnity, taken from the Book of Numbers, recounts the dialogue between
the Lord and Moses, in which God instructs Moses to speak to Aaron and his
sons, conveying expressions of total gratitude to God.
In the words of the
blessing given to Moses, let us bless one another and pray for each other,
saying:
“May the LORD bless you
and keep you;
May the LORD make His
face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you;
May the LORD lift up His
countenance upon you, and give you peace” (Num 6:24-26).
Mother Mary: A Great
Blessing to Humanity
Mother Mary is one of the greatest blessings bestowed upon humanity. She is
a blessing because she was chosen and consecrated by the Father from the very
moment of her existence. Her life is a testimony to the love and abiding
presence of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, making her a unique
channel of God’s grace.
Mary stands as a blessing to humanity as the New Eve, completely possessed
by God and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Through her total surrender, she
became entirely available for God’s redemptive mission. Her life was a living
embodiment of the Word of God, reflecting divine truth and love in every
moment.
Her unwavering fidelity to God’s Word—from the moment of the Annunciation
to the cross of Calvary—further underscores her blessedness. With her
wholehearted fiat, her “yes” to God’s plan, she became a source of
blessing not only in her time but continues to be so for all of humanity.
Through her maternal love and intercession, Mary extends her blessings to
us even today, guiding us toward a deeper relationship with God. Her life
invites us to emulate her faith, trust, and surrender so that we too may be a
source of blessing to others.
As we begin the new year
under the patronage of Mary, Mother of God, let us entrust ourselves to her
maternal care. Through her intercession, may we grow in our relationship with
God and experience the fullness of His grace, just as she did. May her example inspire
us to love God wholeheartedly and serve others selflessly.
Let this year be a time
of renewal in faith, hope, and love, as we walk together in the light of
Christ, with Mary as our guide.
Happy
New Year, and may God bless you all abundantly!
