Homily (Reflection) for
the Octave of Christmas: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (A, B, C) (1st
January)
Num
6:22-27;
Ps
66:2-3.5.6.8 (R. v. 2)Gal 4:4-7;
Lk 2:16-21.
As we step into 2017,
there is need to appraise the year 2016 to see to what extent one was able to
actualize his/her dreams (resolutions) among other things. Are there reasons to
thank God for? Bearing in mind the problems we face in the world, where do we run
to because our leaders seem to be more confused than the people they lead?
Topic: New Year with Mary, Mother of God.
The title of the solemnity we celebrate was
declared as an article of faith in 431AD by the Council of Ephesus and is among
the titles of Mary that have generated so much controversy. I do not intend to
go into the controversy in this homily. But suffice it to say that unless one
doubts the divinity of Christ, one cannot doubt the divine maternity of Mary.
If Jesus Christ is God and Mary is the mother of Jesus, we cannot but conclude
that Mary is mother of God. Hence, she is rightly called the theotokos meaning God’s bearer that was first expressed
in the bible by Saint Elizabeth in these words: “And why has this happened to
me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? (Lk 1:43). The first letter of Saint John reads: “By this you know
the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in
the flesh is of God” (1Jn 4:2). No one
who denies the divine maternity of Mary can be said to be truly a Christian
because it is another way of denying that Jesus is God.
Being all-powerful and all-knowing,
God could have saved us without the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Yet out of limitless
options, the Word took fresh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary to live
among us, cf. Jn 1:14. This, he
planned from the time of our first parents, cf. Gen. 3:15 and was fulfilled at the appropriate time, cf. Gal 4:4.
The sin of Adam and Eve destroyed
the relationship with God that man was enjoying and as a result was thrown out
of the presence of God who is light, cf. 1Jn
1:5. And the world remained in darkness until the coming of Jesus Christ,
the light of the world, cf. Jn 8:12.
Jesus took flesh “to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow
of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Lk 1:79, cf. Is 9:2).
The situation of the world today no
doubt is both precarious and confusing one. We need God who is both the light
and the source of light. It will be good if we step into the New Year with
Mary, the Mother of God who is God’s best channel. Let us call unto her for
peace and security in the whole world.
Today’s gospel reads: “The shepherds
returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it
had been told them.” Lk 2:20. If we
turn to God through Mary with sincere hearts, like the shepherds, we will have
every cause to glorify and praise God for what He has done and for all He will
do in the world through Mary. She is the mother of God. The world really needs
her maternal protection. Borrowing some words from the Blessed Apostle: “See to
it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according
to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not
according to Christ” (Col 2:8).
Jesus Christ is God and we know that God cannot contradict Himself, cf. Ps 31:5, 1Cor 1:9, 2Cor 1:18. God who
asks us to honour our parents, (cf. Ex
20:12; Deut 5:16; Matt 15:4; Matt 19:19; Mk 7:10) will not despise His own
mother. Hence despite the fact that His time had not reached, He obeyed her at
the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee, cf. Jn
2:1-12. Again, when they found him in the temple, “... he went down with
them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them” (Lk 2:51).
Stepping into New Year normally goes
with setting of goals or targets for the year. Although for some, it is useless
to do so. But it is a good thing to make resolutions because anyone without aim
is aimless and anyone who does not plan how to succeed plans how to fail. Some
of us however have the problem of setting unworkable goals. Let us follow the
example of Mary while making the New Year resolutions. “… Mary … pondered them in
her heart.” Lk. 2: 19, cf. Lk. 2: 51. Ponder on the goal/goals you
are setting for yourself. Again, do not set too many of them; the fewer, the
better. Finally, take pains and write them down. Keep it where you will be
seeing it from time to time. It will help you to know how you move.
Bible
Reading: Gen. 3: 1-15; Gal. 4:4-7; Jn 1:1-34; 2:1-12;
1Jn 4:1-21.
Silent Prayer: Plan the year 2017 with God
following the example of Mary.
Let
us humbly call on Mary: The Memorare:
Remember
O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that
never was it known,
that
anyone who fled to thy protection,
implored
thy aid or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.
Inspired
by this confidence,
I
fly unto thee O Virgin of virgins, my mother,
to
thee I come, before thee I stand,
sinful
and sorrowful, O mother of the Word incarnate,
despise
not my petitions but in thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.
May the newborn King through the
intercession of His mother and our mother (cf. Jn 19:26-27), Blessed Virgin Mary, bless the year 2017 and the rest
of our days for us + AMEN!
Wishing you grace-filled New Year
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are free to share this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.
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