Thoughts to live by: Octave of Christmas, solemnity of Mary, mother of God

Today's Thoughts to Live by, 1 January, Thursday, Octave of Christmas, Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God.

Liturgy of the Word

• Numbeers 6:22-27;

• Psalms 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8;

• Galatians 4:4-7;

• Luke 2:16-21.

Today is World Day of Peace. Pope Leo XIV has chosen the following theme for this year: "Peace be with you all: Towards an 'unarmed and disarming' peace." Reject the logic of violence and war; embrace authentic peace, grounded in love and justice.

Some Notes on Mary, the Mother of God

In 431, the Council of Ephesus declared the first Marian dogma of faith: Mary is the Theotokos, the Bearer of God (Latin: Mater Dei, Mother of God). Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, had asserted that Mary was the mother of the human Jesus, but not of the divine Jesus. He preferred the term Christotokos, Christ-bearer.

The Council of Ephesus, however, declared that the human and divine natures are united in the one Divine Person of Christ, and therefore Mary is the Mother of Jesus, both human and divine. She is the Mother of God.

The Second Vatican Council reaffirmed this, stating: "Clearly from earliest times the Blessed Virgin is honoured under the title of Mother of God." In Lumen Gentium, Vatican II calls Mary "Mother of God" twelve times. St Paul VI established the feast of Mary, Mother of God, in 1974, "in conformity with the ancient tradition of the liturgy of the city of Rome." It is also fitting to renew our adoration of the newborn Prince of Peace and to implore from God, "through the Queen of Peace, the supreme gift of peace" (1974, Marialis Cultus, no. 5).

The Marian doctrine is rooted in the Incarnation, as expressed by St Paul: "God sent his Son, born of woman, born under the law" (Gal. 4:4). Likewise, in Luke 1:42-43, Elizabeth greeted Mary: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And why has the mother of my Lord come to me?"

With her words, "I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word" (Lk. 1:38), Mary gave her consent. The Holy Spirit overshadowed her, and the Son of God became incarnate.

1st Reading: Nm. 6:22-27 — The Priestly Blessing

The Lord commanded Moses, Aaron, and their spiritual descendants to bless the Israelites with these poetic words (vv. 22-23):
"The Lord bless 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!" (vv. 24-26).
"So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them" (v. 27).

For the Israelites, God is the source of all grace, blessing, hope, and peace.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

"May the Lord be gracious to us and bless us; may his face shine upon us" (v. 2).
"So shall your way be known upon the earth, your victory among all the nations" (v. 3).
"May the nations be glad and rejoice... May the peoples praise you, God" (vv. 5, 6).
"May God bless us still; that the ends of the earth may revere him" (v. 8).

The Psalm echoes the Priestly Blessing.

2nd Reading: Gal. 4:4-7

"But 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" (vv. 4-5).
"As proof that you are children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!'" (v. 6).

"In the fullness of time" — it is the time of fruition, the moment for the Messiah and Son of God to be born human. He comes not only to redeem us, but to elevate us as children of God by adoption, able to call God with the intimate Aramaic term Abba, Father.

Gospel: Lk. 2:16-21 — The Visit of the Shepherds

After the angel announced the birth of the Messiah and Lord (Lk. 8-14), the shepherds went to Bethlehem. They found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger (vv. 15-16). All were amazed by the shepherds’ story about the child. Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. The shepherds departed, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen (vv. 17-21).

Reflection for the New Year

As we embark on a New Year, may we entrust ourselves to Mary's maternal care, asking for her intercession to lead us ever closer to her Divine Son. May her maternal guidance accompany us on our journey of faith this year.

Prayer

O God, through the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary, you bestowed on the human race the grace of eternal salvation. Grant, we pray, that we may experience her intercession, through whom we were found worthy to receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.