Solemnity, the Holy Mother of God
Readings:
Numbers 6:22-27
Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 2:16-21
While the rest of the world is making New Year’s resolutions to go to the gym more and loose weight, the church points us to Mary. As we celebrate the feast of our Lady in her title of “Mother of God”.
The scriptures of the 1st reading highlight the magnificent role that Mary played in our salvation (Galatians 4:4-5). That it is only through her ‘Yes’ that we are saved. The Gospel story is a story of captured Awe, as the shepherd’s approach The Holy Family and confirm what they had received in their vision. “Mary pondered all these things in her heart”. The blessing found in Numbers 6:24-26 contains the line “may his face shine upon you”.
I wonder if Mary, being the good Jewish woman she was, ever would have thought she would be holding the literal face of God to her own. The blessings and honour of Mary is truly something else. And her Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) couldn’t be truer. To have been a throne for the king of kings. The greatest of bearers of good news. To have fed him breastmilk. To have had his shining face pressed against hers in all intimacy and love.
No one loves our lord more than Mary and no one loves Mary more than our Lord.
Let us pray to our heavenly Mother that she may guide us ever more deeply in our relationship to her Son. That we too will follow Mary’s ‘Yes’ attitude. To bring the Good news into the world! Mamma Mary, Mother of God pray for us.
Claire O’Donohue is a current Oxley Passionist Youth Retreat Team member. While also in her final year of university, she is completing her bachelor’s degree with a major in visual art and theology.