January 01, 2017
Mary, Holy Mother of God
A blessing in the Bible is invoking God’s name. A name conveys the presence and power of the person. For this reason Jewish people and Catholics are reticent to say the Holy Name of God – “Yahweh.†God’s blessing given to Moses and imparted by Aaron is fitting at the beginning of the New Year. “May Lord bless you and keep you. May Lord’s face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace.â€
There is a prohibition in the Old Testament of ever seeing God. The price is death. But here in this blessing God is looking at us, his divine face shining on us. It is a beautiful metaphor of love. We know well the importance of mothers and fathers smiling at a new born child. From the first moment when a baby can see, the baby becomes conscious of a loving gaze. This is critical in human psychological and spiritual development. The first love affair, the first falling in love, is between a baby and mother! We can appreciate the special devotion Catholics and many Christians have for Mary of Nazareth.
The popular title: “Mary, Holy Mother of God†was discussed and debated at the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus in 431 and then affirmed twenty years later at the Council of Chalcedon. “Mary, Mother of God†expresses our orthodox faith that Mary, being the mother of Jesus, can be addressed as the mother of God. It is a title that safeguards the divinity and humanity of her son Jesus Christ.
Mary is a model for us of birthing Jesus. We can only call God “Abba†as adopted children of God because Mary first said “yes†to become the mother of Jesus. Mary is also a model of discipleship, that is, one who listens, ponders, says “yes†and strives to do God’s will. In the Gospel according to St. Luke, Mary is one who does the will of the Father in heaven, is present at the Ascension and is filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Today is Word Day of Peace started by Pope Paul VI 50 years ago when he addressed all people: “Peace is the only true direction of human progress.â€
Pope Francis addresses us: “All of us want peace. Many people build it day by day through small gestures and acts; many of them are suffering, yet patiently persevere in their efforts to be peacemakers. In 2017, may we dedicate ourselves prayerfully and actively to banishing violence from our hearts, words and deeds, and to becoming nonviolent people and to building nonviolent communities that care for our common home. Nothing is impossible if we turn to God in prayer. Everyone can be an artisan of peaceâ€. From the Vatican, 8 December 2016
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Nativity of the Lord
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Epiphany
