THE THEOTOKOS, OUR MOTHER.
January 1 2020: The Octave Day of Christmas
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
An Ivorian proverb says, “A bad son gives his mother a bad
name.” Another proverb adds, “One can never repay one's debt to one's mother.”
At the birth of a child, the first person who smiles to him,
comfort him and assures him of ineffable love and protection is his mother. Mothers
are a lovely gift from heaven. We could not expect a better gift at the opening
of this year than the motherly embrace of Mary.
We celebrate today, January one, Mary as Mother of God. About
this Marian title, St. Luigi Orione exclaims, “Mater Dei! Mother of God! We
have chosen the most complete, the origin of all Mary’s titles.” The “Theotokos”
is the preliminary of all concerning Mary. She is all that we say and sing of
her, simply because she is “Mother of God.” Mary was immaculate, that is
preserved from all stains of sin before her birth in order to be the spotless
Mother of the Son of God. Mary, after her earthly life, we believe, was assumed
into heaven because of what she had been for God’s Son, His Mother. Mary became
our Mediatrix of all grace, Co-redemptrix, Comfort of the afflicted, Gate of
heaven, Mirror of Justice, Mother of the poor, and all the other beautiful
titles we give her, simply because she was the Mother of Jesus-Christ, the
Incarnate Son of God.
The Catechism affirms, “Called in the Gospels "the
mother of Jesus", Mary is acclaimed by Elizabeth, at the prompting of the
Spirit and even before the birth of her son, as "the mother of my
Lord". In fact, the One whom she conceived as man by the Holy Spirit, who
truly became her Son according to the flesh, was none other than the Father's
eternal Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity. Hence the Church confesses
that Mary is truly "Mother of God" (Theotokos)” (CCC 495).
The Theotokos is the key from which we can read and
understand all the Marian Dogmas, devotions and titles. Because for Mary, everything
begun by God’s call: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with
God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name
him Jesus. He will be great and will be
called Son of the Most High” (Lk 1:30-32). As to say, the divine maternity of
Mary is the starting point of the mystery of salvation. As such, Mary always
opens us to a new beginning and a deeper intimacy with her divine Son. Entering
this new year, as children, we are placed under the blessed protection of God’s
Mother. That is not only a blessing for us, but also a great challenge to make
of Mary our companion and our own Mother the whole of this year.
As tradition, this goes beyond cultures, languages and
places, new year is an opportunity to formulate to each other beautiful wishes.
No one misses that opportunity to wish “Happy New Year”. Even the fierce
enemies on that first day of the year bury the hatchet to wish each other the
best. Today’s first reading honors to that tradition. The Lord teaches Moses
how the children of Israel should bless each other. These are wishes that I make
my own to each of you: “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!” And the psalmist won’t fail to make it a song for us all, “May God
bless us in his mercy.””
Paul, in the second reading, with a simple sentence, takes
us back to today’s solemnity. He says, “When the fullness of time had come, God
sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the
law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Here, we are reminded that
Christ, the Son of God was born of a Virgin, who is none else but Mary, though Paul
names her not. He came to redeem us that we might become children of God. All this
was in accordance with God's timing. Paul also adds, “So you are no longer a
slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir, through God.” These are
beautiful and comforting words that in Jesus, Son of Mary, we have all become
children of God by adoption, heirs of the divine promises; consequently,
brothers and sisters of Jesus. So, we are children of his Mother. Mary in that
sense becomes our own Mother too.
The extract of St. Luke reminds us that we are still in the
Christmas time and that the unique place where we can truly and rightly
encounter Jesus as did the shepherds is into Mary’s embrace, in the hands of
Mary his Mother. This is a basic truth even today, that we cannot pretend searching
for Jesus, loving him, or even knowing him and deny his Mother. The simple
young lady of Judea, by God’s choice, had a special role in our salvation, and
Elizabeth says it right, “And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my
Lord should come to me?” Mary is always presented to us as the Mother of our
Lord and Savior, Jesus-Christ. As says the Myanmar proverb, “A child without a
mother is like a fish in shallow water.” We can thus, not imagine Jesus without
Mary. So, entering in this new year, let us all go to Jesus passing through
Mary. Ad Jesum per Mariam. Ave Maria and onward!
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