Resolve to cooperate with the will of God...
Reflections on the readings for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (January 1, 2021): NM 6:22-27; PS 67:2-3,5,6,8; GAL 4:4-7; LK 2:16-21
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
As we are adopted children of God, we, too, are children of the Blessed Virgin, our own Mother... He gave her to us and us to her for all eternity.
Today as we observe the Octave of Christmas we revere the Blessed Virgin Mary under her most solemn title, Mother of God. Recognizing that Jesus Christ is one person with both a divine and a human nature, the Church officially acknowledged Mary as the Mother of God at the Fifth Century Council of Ephesus. She was called Theotokos, Greek for God-bearer. In preparation for the extraordinary role Almighty God had chosen for her as the mother of His Son, Mary was conceived without sin – the Immaculate Conception. When she humbly submitted to the will of our Father at the Annunciation, she truly became the Mother of God. And, as we are adopted children of God, we, too, are children of the Blessed Virgin, our own Mother. Even as Christ sacrificed Himself on the cross for our salvation, He gave her to us and us to her for all eternity.
When we celebrated the birth of Jesus last week we heard the angels of God directing the shepherds to pay homage to the newborn Messiah whom they would find lying in a manger. They did as they were told and shared with the Holy Family, and any who would listen, word that the heavenly messengers sent a blessing of peace to those who have received God’s grace. “Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. When eight days were completed for His circumcision, He was named Jesus, the name given Him by the angel before He was conceived in the womb” (Luke 2:20-21). On this great solemnity with which we start the New Year, we too worship God for the gift of His Son, our Redeemer, born to us through Mary, Virgin and Mother. We thank God for His love and grace that open our hearts to imitate our Blessed Mother by saying, “Yes!” to Him. If we want to make a resolution today, let is be one of cooperating with the will of God and serving Him in any way He asks in the days ahead. We have all faced a difficult year, but let us not be afraid to trust our Eternal Father and find peace in knowing that we are His beloved children now and always.
