Word to the Wise
Saturday, January 1, 2022 - Jan. 1: The Octave Day of Christmas: Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, The Mother of God - ABC
[Num 6:22-27; Gal 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21,]The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. [Luke]
Those of us who remember the liturgical calendar prior to the reforms of the Second Vatican Council will remember the title of this feast day was "the feast of the Circumcision!" The emphasis, of course, was on the Jewish identity of Jesus. This event is still an important one for any male child in certain branches of Judaism. However, the liturgical powers-that-be decided that the role of Mary in the Incarnation needed greater emphasis in this season and so the title of the feast was changed.
Mary's role as "Mother of God" and/or "Mother of Christ" was hotly debated in the early church and finally settled at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD. The title is not intended to mean that Mary is the mother of God from all eternity but only of the Incarnate Word, Jesus, both God and human.
The scriptures assigned for this day do not touch on the theological dispute. The Gospel According to Luke mentions Mary as a true disciple: "And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart." This expression is repeated in the story of Jesus being presented in the temple, "He [Jesus] went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart." In this picture, she has a "mother's memory," to which many of us at one time or another in our lives have turned in our own relationship to our own mothers! So, in an unintentional way, the feast creates a special "Mother's Day" for Mary. The secular, civil, year begins today, but the liturgical year began with Advent. We may wish one another a "Happy New Year!" today, but the liturgy reminds us that we are still in the Christmas/Epiphany season and Mary is not just a "bit player" but a major figure. Her maternal care, in Catholic piety, is shared by all the faithful. AMEN
[All that being said, I wish all my Beloved Congregation a Happy and Healthy New Year 2022! frRB]