Mary, Mother of God
Readings:
1st Rea: Num 6: 22-27
Res: Ps 67: 2-3,5,6-8
2nd Rea: Gal 4:4-7
Gos: Lk 2:16-21
There is no place safer than the womb of the mother!
There is no comfort greater than the lap of the mother!There is no pure love true than the heart of the mother!
Yes, my dear brothers and sisters! "Mother is the name for God on the lips and hearts of little children" says William Makepeace Thackeray. However, the world gives a perfect elevation for a mother as a walking miracle, perceiver of the unexpressed words, powerful motivator, strong influencer, gentle and pious teacher, generous self-giver, etc. If a mother on the earth has so much of accumulated incomparable virtues, how about a mother whom God has chosen and offered to us as both earthly and heavenly mother, who was recognized by her cousin Elizabeth filled with the Holy Spirit acclaiming “why has this happened to me, that the Mother of my Lord comes to me?’ (Luke 1:43). Therefore St. Louis Marie de Montfort would state, in his book “True Devotion to Mary”, the ten principal virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary in particular. Such as 1. Her profound humility, 2. Living faith 3. Her blind obedience, 4. Her constant prayer, 5. Her universal mortification, 6. Her divine purity, 7. Her ardent charity, 8. Her heroic patience, 9. Her angelic sweetness 10. Her divine wisdom. These virtues that decorate the Blessed Virgin Mary to be a perfect and graceful Mother for all. Therefore, it is true and appropriate to celebrate the solemnity of Mary Mother of God as we begin the New year 2021 along with the 53rd World Day of Peace on this day instituted by Pope St. John XXIII’s 1963 encyclical, Pacem in Terris.
Recently 2 sons and 3 daughters along with their father stood around the death bed of the mother in the hospital, and the mother looking at their eyes with smile uttered her last coherent words, saying, “I feel so loved right now, we should have gotten together like this more often.” Yes, my dear brothers and sisters that is the greatness of the Mother who longs to be with her children. Today as we appreciate and honor the Mother of God on this first day of the year, it is an invitation for us to live with her and be loved by her as Jesus did for 33 years. Therefore, today’s three readings indicate the ways to receive the blessings of God to live our life through Jesus born of Mary, who treasured everything in her heart.
The first reading from the book of Numbers 6:22-27, invites us to reflect about the Hebrews’ journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, events that happened in the 13th century BC. At this juncture God gives Moses and Aaron the formula they should use while conferring the Divine blessing upon the Israelites. This reading reminds us that Our life on earth is limited and uncertain, therefore we are invited to live our life to the full with the blessings of God to overcome the daily pains and hard times.
The second reading from the letter to the Galatians 4:4-17, speaks about the Incarnation and sanctification in the mystery of the salvation. Since among the Christians in Galatia were taught that Christians had to keep the Jewish law, to the point of being circumcised, in order to be saved. St. Paul argues forcefully that there should be no such requirement, because the coming of Christ has fulfilled the Old Law and annulled it. Paul reminds the Galatians that God’s Son has become one of us through Mary, and that it was through Him that we have become the children of God. Therefore, it reminds us to be strong and daring in marching towards the salvation.
Today’s Gospel Lk 2:16-21 teaches us three lessons:
Firstly, the name “Jesus” was given to her Son meaning ‘Yahweh is salvation.’ Secondly, how, the shepherds spread to all in their neighbourhood, the Good News about the birth of Jesus which the angel had revealed to them. Thirdly, how Mary treasured “all these things, pondering them in her heart.” (Lk 2:19). To face the challenges in life, we need certain graces to perceive, consequently the Gospel reading offers the great personality, in the person of Mary to trust and depend on God totally. Therefore, the first day of the year presents before us three proposals for the coming year 2021 along with our personal resolutions.
1. Take Mary a model for a Successful Living
She is a model for all men of good will to begin the new year to re-commit ourselves to imitate her ‘Yes’ to God. As there are 8,760 hours in a year perhaps a quality time spent in prayer to Jesus through Mary, would bring us the grace to live our life peacefully. Let us deepen our love towards our mother as St. Maximilian Kolbe said, “Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.” So also St. Montfort would affirm that “Mary is so full of love, that no one who asks for her intercession is rejected, no matter how sinful he may be” therefore let us cling to her no matter in what state we are.
2. Our time on this earth is limited: Count your Blessings and Share
Each new year that we celebrate reminds us that we are getting old and innovative in setting goal, performance and achievement. However, the Psalm 90:10 teaches that “The length of our days is 70 years or 80, if we have the strength...they quickly pass, and we fly away." A few years ago, the People Magazine published an article entitled "Death Ahead" stating about a new clock that keeps track of how much time you have left to live. It calculates an average life span of 75 years for men & 80 years for women. So, one could program one’s sex and age into the clock, from then on it will tell how much time you have left. It may be an exciting idea to know the hour of life on earth, as the life is filled with unimaginable threats in the form of bio war, scarcity of the food, neglect of the poor, slavery, injustice, unfathomable taxes, hard pressed rules, etc. However, it’s an invitation for us to trust in God, count the blessings of God and share it generously.
3.Make the most of every opportunity to spread comfort and peace
The new year is an opportunity for the progress, to grow in God’s grace. As there is a quote about the new year which reminds us that:
The New Year is not the change of dates but the direction;
It is not about changing the calendar but Undertaking;
It is not about changing the actions, but the attitude;
It is not about changing the fruit, but the faith, strength and focus!
Saint Augustine has a beautiful definition of peace. According to him, peace means, “serenity of the mind, simplicity of the heart and tranquility of the soul.” Let us be aware that no one robs our peace and tranquility and spend it for the prosperity, in celebrating life by saying ‘shalom’ to everyone.
May this New Year 2021 bring!
Enough happiness to keep us sweet - enough trials to keep us strong,
Enough sorrow to keep us human - enough hope to keep us happy,
Enough failure to keep us humble - enough success to keep us eager,
Enough friends to give us comfort - enough wealth to meet our needs,
Enough enthusiasm to make us look forward to tomorrow,
& Enough determination to make each day better than the day before.
Enough sorrow to keep us human - enough hope to keep us happy,
Enough failure to keep us humble - enough success to keep us eager,
Enough friends to give us comfort - enough wealth to meet our needs,
Enough enthusiasm to make us look forward to tomorrow,
& Enough determination to make each day better than the day before.
Wishing you all a Happy New Year 2021!
Fr. Amalraj SMM