Mary Mother of God, January 1, 2012

Mary, Mother of God, January 1

Last week we celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to a virgin mother Mary. She was a humble girl of a good Jewish family. An angel appeared, a husband accepted, the Savior was within her womb.

A baby was born, angels sang, shepherds came and adored, wise men followed a star and worshiped with amazing and precious gifts, and then all faded into shadow. A murderous king Herod struck many infant baby boys, and the Holy Family escaped into Egypt.

The gospel tells us that Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. What her thoughts were then we do not know, because her child was wrapped in mystery. She had to live her entire life as a mother, relying on her trust in a loving God, to whose angel she once said "Yes." Mary must have often recalled the events of Bethlehem and pondered them in her heart. All those who came to see her Son then came with the eyes of faith for the new-born Son.

As a new year begins for us, we have to close the door on 2004 and walk into 2005 without knowing what lies ahead for us. Just as Mary went forward from the Christmas events into a life of mystery, so too must we enter today and tomorrow. And, just as did Mary, we can do it with faith and trust in her Son.

The New Year begins with the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, a feast which commemorates a mysterious union between God and a woman. As we heard in the second reading: When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. In placing this feast at the beginning of the calendar year, the Church presents Mary as a model and guide for us on our journey of faith into a new and unknown year. Although Mary was singled out by God to be the mother of Our Savior Jesus, she was still a woman who had to walk in faith and for whom belief was a struggle. She did not enjoy an easy life:

- At the birth of her Son she had nowhere to call a home.

- At his death she stood silently as the cross, hardly understanding all that was happening.

As a mother, she was the great giver who formed Christ and made him fully human. She will form us too and bring us close to her Son if, in the coming year, we put ourselves under her protection and care. Even our difficulties, our sorrows and suffering can be turned into joy with her along.

The Church places this feast day, just after the Christmas event, for a good reason. Just after we recognize and celebrate that the new-born baby Jesus is truly the Son of God, we are called to recognize that we too are now sons and daughter of the same loving God. Paul’s letter says it boldly and clearly: As proof that you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir, through God. That means that, if we are children of God, as is Jesus, then we are brothers and sisters of Jesus, and so Mary is also our mother in faith, and in love. That is what we celebrate – the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of You.

Our Blessed Mother Mary brought the gift of Peace Incarnate to the world, in Jesus, the long-awaited Prince of Peace. As children of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, we are called to work for peace, in ourselves, our families, communities, nation and the world. Pray that all may seek peace; pray for all who serve the causes of peace, in our community, in our national and world leaders, and in our military personnel.

May the grace and peace of the Lord, born of the Virgin Mary, flow into your hearts, and through you to all the world, that we may know peace in our lives, our families and in all the world.