Mary, The Holy Mother of God
Readings:
Numbers 6:22-27
Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 2:16-21
Reflection
As the new calendar year opens and new year’s resolutions flood in, the church points us in the direction of Mary, and her Solemnity feast as Mother of God celebrates January 1st every year. The scriptures today highlight the magnificent role she played in the story of salvation in bearing her Son, named Jesus, meaning “the Lord saves”. As Paul tells us in the letter to the Galatians, it is only through Mary that the story of salvation unfolds. Through Mary’s famous ‘yes’, we receive the mind-blowing good News that we become Co-Heirs with Christ. Making not only Mary Christ’s mother but ours too.
Today’s Gospel message captures Mary’s continuous awe and wonder as “she pondered these things in her heart”. Perhaps she is still catching up to the wonderous revelation of God incarnate held in her own arms as the shepherds come to her and confirm what was told in the message from Gabriel.
Even to the blessings found in the first reading, Mary might have grown up hearing, did she ever expect to have the face of God shining literally held to her cheek?
We pray over this next coming year that we can follow in the footsteps of our Mother and that God might bestow his grace and mercy on us to be like her in our own time, bearers of God and make the most of our eternal sonship and adoption.
Best blessings for the new year
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.