Happy Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and Happy New Year! Last Sunday, we celebrated the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, and today we celebrate gift of His Mother Mary. It is only fitting that we celebrate the fruit and tree of the fruit, a reminder that we cannot separate the Mother from the child without doing damage. Mary’s mission with Jesus on earth is over but not with us, the brothers and sisters of Jesus who have been given the same Spirit of her son that enables us to call God, Abba, Father. Last week, we asked ourselves the question, “What has been the trajectory of my life for the past year (s), and how am I called to pause with the Word flesh for me that He may show me and lead me to the full meaning of my life? Today, Mary shows us how to be Mother to the Word incarnate by that statement in the Gospel – “Mary contemplated all these things in her heart.”
Last week, we lost two great mothers of our parish and the testimonies of their daughters were same: “My mom was the best mother… she taught me how to be good mother.” On this Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, I would like first of all show that Mary is the Mother of all mothers by meditating on what sort of Mother Mary is; what her vocation to motherhood shows us about motherhood; and our response to her as her children.
Motherhood is a Call from God
Mary is the Mother of God not by her making, but by God’s choice. Her circumstances to be a Mother were not like the ordinary. There were so many unknowns that could lead to conflicts with her betrothed, Joseph, and even unto death. In spite of all these circumstances, Mary said yes God calling her to be the Mother of her son, counting not on her strength but on the vision of the one who calls her.
Circumstances are not an excuse to become who we were called to be; circumstances are precisely the conditions that form us to be the persons we are called to be. God does not permit things to happen in our lives just to make us victims of circumstances; He does so to make us the heroes of those circumstances but not without struggle, just as no one becomes a hero without a fight. The responsibilities of being a mother are real, but many how turned down the call because the focused more on their circumstances than on the one who has issued the invitation. When God calls to whatever vocation, motherhood, fatherhood or priesthood, there is one thing we must do – trust.
How to Respond to that Call Always
Mary is the Mother of God not only because God chose her, but also because she chose God. Mary’s yes to God was an act of faith to God. Though she did not understand, she trusted more in the One who called her than in herself. Mary’s yes, like the “I do” of married couples is not a one day yes, but one renewed “yes” everyday of our lives. The question remains: How do we do that? By meditating on God’s Word every day of our lives. The Gospel highlights that “Mary kept all these things in her heart, meditating upon them.” It was an ongoing reflection. The blessing of this is we never get used to the gift we have been given, but remain always grateful and joyful. Dietrich von Hildebrand stipulates for us what we must do to ever appreciate the gifts of God and so overcome ingratitude when he states: “We must combat it (ingratitude) expressly by calling to mind on all occasions how great the gift is that we enjoy; also, what our situation was before we had received it and what our situation would again be if it were withdrawn from us.”
In the Gospels, when Jesus says, whoever does the will of His Father is His brother, sister, and mother, we could easily see how being his brothers and sister can be by doing the Father’s will. However, being the mother needs a little more. A woman becomes a mother first by conception, but also by nurturing. To meditate on the Word of God is to let the Word of God take root in our hearts so that we may bring Him forth in our lives, our thoughts, words and actions. If I may suggest a new year resolution as we begin the year: read and meditate on God’s word everyday. How blessed are we to have podcasts such as the bible and the catechism in a year with Fr. Mike Schmitz! Begin today.
In light of the nurturing truth of a mother, we can say every mother is like a pelican that feeds her children with her own body, by her own sacrifices. Mary is Mother of Jesus not only because she shared at His birth, but also because she said at His suffering and death. What is said of St. Joseph by pope Francis can equally be said of Mary and all mothers: mothers are not born; mothers are made. Being a mother is not simply bringing a child into the world, but taking responsibility for that child all the days of its life. With trust and meditation, we too can become mothers after the example of our Blessed Mother.
How to be Children of Mary
Before returning to the Father, our Lord gave us His blessed Mother. At the foot of the cross, we too like John at called to take Mary to our home. At every Mass, we come to the foot of the cross where we receive not only Jesus, but also His blessed mother. At every communion we receive, we take Jesus home. Where the Son is present, there also is the mother.
To be children of Mary, we must reflect in our lives the values she has taught us: obedience, humility, purity, simplicity, trust, meditation. May Mary, Mother of God intercede for us so that ours may be the blessings the Father offers to us at the beginning of this year as we heard in the first reading:
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!