Mary, The Holy Mother of God, Year C
Today is the first day of the year. We gather here in the liturgy for two reasons. First is thanksgiving. Second is blessing. We have been through many up and downs, happiness and sadness, failure and success in this year. We need to remember that if we standing up that means God is journeying with us all the time. We need to thank Him for the last year. Secondly, it is the asking for the blessing and protection for the future. We do this through our mother and mother of God, Mama Mary.
Today 1st reading highlights theme of blessing. The Lord speaks to Moses and tell him to inform Aaron and his sons that they will bless the Israel: “The Lord bless you and keep you.” It is necessary that we should start the New Year with the Lord. We need to start it with His blessing. We offer to him our year whatever it may be happiness, sadness, failure or success.
Psalms 67 invokes the saving power: “your saving power among all nations.” We need the saving power of God through Jesus Christ who is already born in our hearts and home. It is through His saving power, we will be start the race of next year. If we lack the saving power of God we will fall short of energy to finish the race.
The second reading says that we are children of God because of Jesus: “so you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.” As Jesus born in the world, he has taken our humanity. Through incarnation, he was able to reconcile us to God, he made us children of God. He reunited us to God. Through Jesus, we become children of God. If we become children of God, why we need to fear to face the year as the blessing and saving power will be poured upon us.
Gospel portraits on the Mama Mary as mother: “so they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.” If we call ourselves children of God, it is because of the mama Mary. She gave herself to God so that son of God may come to this world to save us and redeem us. She is mother of God and at the mother of all of us.
Coining of The term: The term was certainly in use by the 4th century. Athanasius of Alexandria in 330, Gregory the Theologian in 370, John Chrysostom in 400, and Augustine all used theotokos. The use of Theotokos was formally affirmed at the Third Ecumenical Council held at Ephesus in 431. It proclaimed that Mary truly became the Mother of God by the human conception of the Son of God in her womb.
Evolution of Feast: The honouring of Mary as the Mother of God can be traced back to the Council of Ephesus in 431. By the 7th century, January 1st was observed as a celebration of the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the 13th century, the Feast of the Circumcision of Christ had come to replace the feast honouring Mary. However, in 1751, Pope Benedict XIV allowed Portugal’s churches to devote a feast to Mary on the first Sunday in May. This was because of a push in Portugal for an official feast day celebrating Mary’s divine maternity. Eventually, the feast was expanded to include other countries. In 1914, the feast started to be observed on October 11. In 1931, Pope Pius XI extended the feast to the entire church. In 1974, Pope Paul VI removed the feast of the Circumcision of Christ from the liturgical calendar. He replaced it with the feast of the “Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God”, bringing Mary’s feast day back to the first day of the calendar year.
Reason why feast is on Jan 1: In his Apostolic Letter Marialis Cultus, Pope Paul VI explained: "This celebration, placed on January 1 ...is meant to commemorate the part played by Mary in this mystery of salvation. It is meant also to exalt the singular dignity which this mystery brings to the 'holy Mother...through whom we were found worthy to receive the Author of life.' It is likewise a fitting occasion for renewing adoration of the new born Prince of Peace, for listening once more to the glad tidings of the angels (cf. Lk. 2:14), and for imploring from God, through the Queen of Peace, the supreme gift of peace."[17]
The Secret to Success: Once a young man asked the wise man, Socrates, the secret to success. Socrates patiently listened to the man’s question and told him to meet him near the river the following day for the answer. So the next day, Socrates asked the young man to walk with him towards the river. As they went in the river, the water got up to their neck. But to the young man’s surprise, Socrates ducked him into the water.
The young man struggled to get out of the water, but Socrates was strong and kept him there until the boy started turning blue. Finally, Socrates pulled the man’s head out of the water. The young man gasped and took a deep breath of air. Socrates asked, ‘What did you want the most when your head was in the water?” The young man replied, “Air.” Socrates said, “That is the secret to success. When you want success as badly as you wanted the air while you were in the water, then you will get it. There is no other secret.” A burning desire is the starting point of all accomplishment.
5 Secrets of Mary Mother God for the success and fruitful New Year:
Her willingness (Fiat): Mary said “yes” to God's plan for her life and she was obedient. She was a faithful servant of God. Her humility is indispensable. Surely we can never doubt her obedient, submissive, and humble heart. Are we willing to say, “yes Lord,” to whatever task He calls us?
Her Sacrifice: Mary sacrificed a lot for baby Jesus. He said “yes” to Lord knowing difficulties that she was required to face. Joseph planned to divorce her secretly. Later, she need to travel to Egypt to protect the Baby Jesus.
Her Faith: Mary was a faithful servant. When it seemed like everyone had deserted Jesus, his mother Mary was there, and she followed him all the way to the cross. Today there are not many professing believers who are ready to follow Jesus to the cross. Are you a true follower of Christ? Are you faithful to Jesus no matter the circumstances or the difficulty of what you may be called to endure? There are many who claim to be followers of Jesus but are deceived (Matthew 7:21). …but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ~John 19:25.
Her trouble-shooter is Jesus: When a problem arises where do we turn to first for guidance? Do we seek Christ or turn to others? Do we spend time worrying? Do we point others toward Christ? When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” ~John 2:3-5.
God-bearer: Theotokos, which means “God-bearer”: Moreover, Mother Mary is bearer of Jesus. We need to bear Jesus by witness and life as start this New Year.
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