Mary, Mother of God
One
Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
How can we make this outrageous claim that Mary is the Mother of God? Well, it’s very simple actually. Mary is the Mother of Jesus and Jesus is God. Mary is the mother of the eternal Son of God made man, who is God himself. So, we call her Theotokos, the one who bears the One who is God. And not only is Mary the Mother of God, She is our Mother.
In John chapter 19:25 we hear, “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, 'Woman, this is your son. Then to the disciple he said, 'This is your mother.'”
The Apostle John speaks of himself anonymously because he wants all of us to recognize ourselves as beloved disciples of Jesus.
God doesn’t need to use a lot of words to make important things happen. Before the world began God said, “Let there be light” and the universe sprang into existence. At the Last Supper, God said, “This is my body” and mere bread became God in the Eucharist. From the Cross God said, “This is your mother.” And from that moment Mary became the spiritual mother of every person in the world.
The question for us is, do you really live as if Mary is your mother? Do you depend on her like a little child in her care?
Two
To me, the very next line in this scene, verse 27 is the most important…“And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his home.”
The original Greek text ends with “eis ta idia” which suggests a much deeper meaning than just making a place for Mary in his home. The beloved disciple took Mary not just into his physical home, but if we are faithful to the meaning of the original text, we would translate it to say, “The disciple brought Mary into every part of his life, he welcomed Mary into his soul, into his interior life, so that she could form him to be like Jesus.
Jesus offers us the gift of Mary’s Maternal Care. We have the choice to accept or ignore the gift.
By consecration to Mary, we welcome her into the home of our soul to form us to be like Jesus.
Three
Consecration to Mary
Consecration or Devotion to Mary just means living in imitation of Jesus. Think about this, the very first thing the Son of God did to save us was to entrust himself entirely to Mary, to be a helpless embryo in her womb and a little child in her care. As His mother, what did Mary do for Jesus?
Everything…By the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary conceived and gave birth to Jesus, she nourished him, protected and provided for him, educated and formed him, intuited and prompted the beginning of his public ministry at Cana, stood by him at the Cross and laid him in the tomb.
If we take Mary as our Mother, what will she do for us?
Everything…With the Holy Spirit, She will conceive and give birth to the life of Jesus in us through Baptism, watch over, protect and provide for us, educate and form us in the likeness of Christ, walk with us as we carry our cross and support us at the moment of death.
What should we do if we want to live in imitation of Jesus?
Begin by walking on water, preaching to the multitudes, raising the dead…We should Begin the way Jesus did and Consecrate ourselves entirely to Mary to be her little son or daughter.
Four
The Secret of Mary
Many people make the consecration to Mary, but they don’t live it. They don’t live a personal relationship with Mary, moment to moment, day after day like Jesus did in Nazareth.
What do you think were the first words of the little child Jesus when he woke up each day? For sure it was “Mama.” When you wake up say, “Mama, I am all yours and all that is mine is yours.”
Then practice living in her presence each day, depending on her, letting her conduct all your affairs. But you have to first become more aware of her presence. Every time you see an image of Mary, let it remind you she is with you. Then talk with her. Ask her what to do. Wait for her inspirations and follow them the best you can.
You are a little child learning to live in her presence.
Ask Mary to replace your thoughts with her thoughts, your feelings with her feelings, your choices with her choices.
By living in complete dependence on Mary, we live in complete dependence upon the Holy Spirit because the Holy Spirit carries out his mission through her.
Five
John Paul lived a personal relationship with Mary
Someone once asked John Paul II, “Have you ever seen the Virgin Mary?” “No” he replied. “But I sense her presence continuously.”
And one year after he was shot in St. Peter’s Square he said, “This last year I have lived a constant conversation with Mary.”
Monsignor George Tracy was struck by the conversation John Paul had with Mary in prayer after Mass one day. He mentioned this to one of the Pope’s attendants who replied, “We know, He does that all the time, and she’s the only one he listens to around here.”
Today, January 1st, we look into a new year. We can’t see what the future holds, it’s like looking into complete and total darkness.
But we don’t have to be afraid. Because from the darkness comes a Mother’s voice saying, “Am I not here who am your Mother?”
And she stretches forth her hand from the darkness saying, “Take my hand. I will guide you through this year. You have nothing to fear by my side. Just stick close by me.”