Reflection for Sunday, January 1, 2012
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
and World Day of Peace
There is an American Spiritual titled with the question: Who Was Mary? In a rather haunting melody, that question is repeated again and again. For many centuries this same question has been asked by most Christian believers. Scripture gives us very little factual information about Mary, only that she was a Jewish woman from Nazareth, wed to Joseph, who traveled to Bethlehem and gave birth to the Son of God whom she named Jesus. The spiritual, Who Was Mary? has just one verse that bears the same message: Mary rode to Bethlehem
And she gave us the Holy Lamb
Discovering who Mary was, or who she is for us today, will be found not in the factual, historical information available to us, but in Luke’s more theological account of Mary, and in Mary’s responses to God who invites her to play such a significant role in salvation history. Responding in humble acceptance and complete faith, Mary became Theotokos, a title given to her in the early 5th century meaning “God-bearer” or “Mother of God”. But while this role has set her above other women, it is the virtues of her person that make her beloved. Mary’s motherhood went beyond the purely biological; it demanded love, self-giving, devotion, and other qualities of the heart that were given freely and given fully. Filled with the Spirit of God, Mary was attentive and obedient to God’s will, whether it brought her suffering or blessing. She was, in a very real sense, the receptacle of God’s grace and the humble servant of God’s will.
In today’s liturgy, the second reading from Galatians and the Gospel from the second chapter of Luke, both focus on the incarnation, on Mary as Mother of God. “When the fullness of time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman (Galatians)” . . . and “Shepherds found Mary and Joseph and the infant . . . Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” (Luke)
The first reading from the Book of Numbers contains Moses’ blessing of the Israelites, a blessing given to Moses by God. This could also be considered God’s blessing of Mary, for God did bless and keep her, made his face to shine on her,
filled her with grace, looked upon her kindly, and gave her peace.
Mary was the first Christian believer, the preeminent channel of salvation, the Queen of Peace who gave birth to the Prince of Peace. How fitting it is to celebrate World Day of Peace on the Feast of Mary, Mother of God! Following Mary’s example, we must reflect in our hearts on God’s Word in Scripture, on the marvels of the incarnation, and the mysteries of salvation. We must also ponder over Mary’s – and our own – relationship with God and responsiveness to his will. And each of us must find a personal answer to the question: Who was Mary?
-Sr. Regina Murphy, SSMN
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