MARY, MOTHER OF GOD
(Lk 2:16-21)
To listen to the Australian Catholic Radio Online:
http://cradio.org.au/resources/homilies/mary-the-mother-of-god/
While we join the whole world in revelry in welcoming the new year, let us not forget that the first day of the year is the most important solemnity of Mary, her being the Mother of God! Theologians call her the Theotokos!
Her motherhood defines her whole being: as the mother of Jesus, mother of the New Humanity, mother of the Church and mother of us all. Vatican II affirms the place of Mary in the history of salvation: "truly the mother of God and mother of the redeemer, in subordination to Christ along with him, by the grace of almighty God she served the mystery of redemption" (Lumen Gentium #56).
The motherhood of Mary to Jesus which started with the Annunciation reached its peak when she stood beneath the cross (Jn 19:25-26). In his dying moment, she was called "woman" by Jesus which was the fulfilment of Gen. 3:15 ("I will put enmity between you and the woman…") and in reference to the woman during the wedding at Cana: "Woman what concern is that to you and to me?" (Jn. 2:4). The same woman now clothed with the sun will be mentioned in the later part of the book of Revelation (Rev. 12). After addressing her "woman" Jesus now turned to John and entrusted his mother to him. From that time on, Mary became the New Eve who is mother of the new humanity. This will become her new role as the Vatican II puts it: "By her maternal charity Mary cares for the brethren of her Son who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and difficulties, until they are led to their happy fatherland' (Lumen Gentium #61).
St. Luke wanted to show the new role of Mary's universal maternity since the early beginnings of the Church when she is portrayed in prayer with the twelve apostles awaiting for the Pentecost (Acts 1:14). Mary who is the most distinguished member of the Church, is personified as the icon of the Church, hence we also call her "Mother of the Church" of which Christ is the Head. Consequently all those born in the Church by the virtue of baptism is also born of Mary, hence we also call her our own mother. Because Mary personifies the virgin-Church (who is the "bride" of Christ), Mary remains a virgin and because the Church gives spiritual birth to all the children of God, Mary is also a mother. This is the reason why we call her Virgin Mother!
It is because of the Church and Mary that we participate in the divine sonship of Jesus hence we have all become adopted children of God: "Then God sent his Son born of a woman that we should become adopted sons" (Gal. 4:4). The proof that we are sons is the fact that God sent into our hearts the spirit of his Son which cries out 'Abba Father'! (Gal. 4:6).
Here are the very words of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego during the earliest Marian apparition: "Hear me and understand well, my son the least, that nothing should frighten or grieve you. Let not your heart be disturbed. Do not fear that sickness, nor any other sickness or anguish. Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything."
Our great consolation is that the Mother of God is also our very own Mother….
Please read the poetograph FIAT in my other blog:
http://frvladpoetographer.blogspot.com/2011/12/blog-post.html
(Lk 2:16-21)
To listen to the Australian Catholic Radio Online:
http://cradio.org.au/resources/homilies/mary-the-mother-of-god/
While we join the whole world in revelry in welcoming the new year, let us not forget that the first day of the year is the most important solemnity of Mary, her being the Mother of God! Theologians call her the Theotokos!
Her motherhood defines her whole being: as the mother of Jesus, mother of the New Humanity, mother of the Church and mother of us all. Vatican II affirms the place of Mary in the history of salvation: "truly the mother of God and mother of the redeemer, in subordination to Christ along with him, by the grace of almighty God she served the mystery of redemption" (Lumen Gentium #56).
The motherhood of Mary to Jesus which started with the Annunciation reached its peak when she stood beneath the cross (Jn 19:25-26). In his dying moment, she was called "woman" by Jesus which was the fulfilment of Gen. 3:15 ("I will put enmity between you and the woman…") and in reference to the woman during the wedding at Cana: "Woman what concern is that to you and to me?" (Jn. 2:4). The same woman now clothed with the sun will be mentioned in the later part of the book of Revelation (Rev. 12). After addressing her "woman" Jesus now turned to John and entrusted his mother to him. From that time on, Mary became the New Eve who is mother of the new humanity. This will become her new role as the Vatican II puts it: "By her maternal charity Mary cares for the brethren of her Son who still journey on earth surrounded by dangers and difficulties, until they are led to their happy fatherland' (Lumen Gentium #61).
St. Luke wanted to show the new role of Mary's universal maternity since the early beginnings of the Church when she is portrayed in prayer with the twelve apostles awaiting for the Pentecost (Acts 1:14). Mary who is the most distinguished member of the Church, is personified as the icon of the Church, hence we also call her "Mother of the Church" of which Christ is the Head. Consequently all those born in the Church by the virtue of baptism is also born of Mary, hence we also call her our own mother. Because Mary personifies the virgin-Church (who is the "bride" of Christ), Mary remains a virgin and because the Church gives spiritual birth to all the children of God, Mary is also a mother. This is the reason why we call her Virgin Mother!
It is because of the Church and Mary that we participate in the divine sonship of Jesus hence we have all become adopted children of God: "Then God sent his Son born of a woman that we should become adopted sons" (Gal. 4:4). The proof that we are sons is the fact that God sent into our hearts the spirit of his Son which cries out 'Abba Father'! (Gal. 4:6).
Here are the very words of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego during the earliest Marian apparition: "Hear me and understand well, my son the least, that nothing should frighten or grieve you. Let not your heart be disturbed. Do not fear that sickness, nor any other sickness or anguish. Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything."
Our great consolation is that the Mother of God is also our very own Mother….
Please read the poetograph FIAT in my other blog:
http://frvladpoetographer.blogspot.com/2011/12/blog-post.html
The photo in this post is Our Lady of Vladimir, a Russian icon on wood, 12th Century)
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