“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
1stJanuary 2018.
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MONDAY, CHRISTMAS OCTAVE
Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God
Reading 1: Num 6: 22-27 The Lord himself tells Moses and Aaron how he wants his people to be blessed.
Res. Psalm: Ps 66:2-3.5-6,8 May the Lord give us his blessing, till the ends of the earth revere him.
Reading 2: Gal 4:4-7 St. Paul informs us of our great dignity as members of Christ: we are adopted children of God, not slaves.
Gospel: Lk 2: 16-21Shepherds’ visit Jesus in the manger. The Shepherds after seeing Jesus, return glorifying and praising God. And Mary treasured these in her heart.
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MOTHER MARY, PROTECTRESS AND GUIDE!
Every feast of Mary belongs to Jesus, because Mary lived for him and took her meaning from Jesus. In a marvelous exchange, Mary is the point of access to the human world for Jesus and Jesus is the point of access to the divine world for Mary. The Christmas Octave would not be complete without paying special attention to the glorious Mother of God! Therefore, we celebrate Mary's physical motherhood of Jesus and her spiritual motherhood of the Church and properly called the “Mother of God.” This powerful title of our Blessed Mother says just as much about Jesus as it does about His Blessed Mother. In calling Mary the “Mother of God,” we especially acknowledge one fact of human life. A mother is not just the source of one’s flesh, she is not just the mother of the body of her children, she is the mother of that person. Being a mother is not just something biological, it is something sacred and holy and is part of the divine order of God’s creation. Jesus was her Child and this Child is God. Therefore, it is proper logic to call Mary the “Mother of God.”
God has a mother! He has a particular person who carried Him in her womb, nursed Him, raised Him, taught Him, loved Him, was there for Him, and pondered who He was throughout His life. The Gospel says, “And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” Her love for Jesus was as unique as the love of any mother. She was a mother in perfection and loved Him with a perfect love, He who was not only her Son, but was also God and was perfect in every way. She is an example for every mother and is also an example for all of us who seek to love others with a pure and holy heart.
In the first reading, the blessing of God on his people meant hope for them. It meant courage to overcome the problems of everyday life. Today we too are asked to trust in the Lord and call upon his blessing at the beginning of this year. In the second reading, Paul gives us the reason for hope at the beginning of the New Year: Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, who has become one with us; he became our brother, in all things like us except in sin. God has accepted us as His children. We Christians must witness God’s love manifested in Jesus Christ. Our mother church is ever mindful that we need the best model and guide for our journey through the year and therefore offers us Mary, Mother of God on the first day of the year. As the dawn breaks and the New Year begins, we are not alone; we have the God’s Mother to protect and guide us through the year.
Of all God’s creatures –on earth and in heaven, there is none so glorious and so close to Jesus than Mary, His Mother. Mother Mary is New Eve. Eve, the mother of the human race brought death by her disobedience, both for herself and to the whole human race, but Mary the new Eve, brought forth life by her obedience. St. Irenaeus called Mary as the cause of our Salvation. Cardinal Newman who brought forth the contrast between Mary and Eve said thus, “As Eve forfeited privileges by Sin, so Mary earned privileges by the fruits of grace; that as Eve was disobedient and unbelieving, so Mary was obedient and believing; that as Eve was a cause of ruin to all, Mary was cause of salvation to all; that Eve made room for Adam’s fall, so Mary made room for our Lord’s reparation of it; thus, whereas the free gift was not as the offence but much greater, it follows that, as Eve cooperated in effecting a great evil, Mary cooperated in effecting a much greater good. Mary is a great gift from Jesus to us. Jesus knew that His mother was great and as a parting gift, he offered her to us as our mother.
Let us reflect today, upon the holy and captivating relationship that Mary would have shared with her Divine Son. Let us imagine the deep emotion and passion that would have filled her heart. Let us contemplate the level of unwavering commitment she would have had. What a beautiful celebration this is to conclude this Octave of Christmas Day, and to begin the New Year!
Prayer: Lord, May Mary’s prayer, the gift of a mother’s love, be our joy through all ages. May her response, born of a humble heart, draw your Spirit to rest on your people. As we proclaim the Virgin Mary to be the mother of Christ and the mother of the Church, may our communion with her Son bring us to salvation. Amen.
JOYCAT (Joy Catholic) and FURKAT (FurahaKatoliki) wish you all and your families a Blessed and Love filled New Year 2018. May you discover the protection of Mary in your lives and may she along with Jesus bring joy and love in your families.