CHILD IN HER ARMS!
Our Blessed
Mother is loving and consoling. She truly is our Mother in that she continually
gives birth to the supernatural life within each of us, her children.
Think of how often
we have contemplated Mary with the Child in her arms! Christian piety has
inspired the countless different works of art which represent the feast we
celebrate today - Mary as the Mother of God. Mary is our Lady, full of grace
and virtue, conceived without sin. She is the Mother of God and our Mother,
too, who dwells both body and soul in heaven. Sacred Scripture refers to her as
the most exalted of all creatures, the blessed one, the most honored among
women, full of grace, she whom all generations shall call blessed.
In today's second
reading we hear, "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" (Gal 4:4-5). Jesus did not suddenly come
down from heaven and appear on earth. He became truly man, like us, taking on
our human nature in the most pure womb of the Virgin Mary. Insofar as He is
God, Jesus is generated, not made, by God the Father from all eternity. Insofar
as He is man, He was born, was made, of Mary.
Our Blessed Mother
is loving and consoling. She truly is our Mother in that she continually gives
birth to the supernatural life within each of us, her children. She conceived,
brought forth and nourished Christ; she presented Him to the Father in the
temple and shared her Son's sufferings as He died on the Cross. Her obedience,
faith, hope, and burning charity all played a part in the work of the Savior in
restoring supernatural life to souls. For this reason she is a mother to us in
the order of grace.
Jesus gave Mary as
our Mother when, after He had been nailed to the Cross, He addressed her in
these words, "'Woman, behold your Son.' Then He said to the disciple,
'Behold your mother'" (Jn 19:26 - 27). From that day onward the whole
Church and all human life received her as their Mother.
St. Luke tells us
that "Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart"
(Lk 2:19). The Heart of Mary - to know what goes on inside the heart of another
is intimate knowledge. Oftentimes, we don't even know what transpires within
our own heart. But Mary knew. She knew that God had entered her life with a
special calling - to conceive and bear Jesus. As we know from subsequent
history, both joy and sorrow filled Mary's inner life.
Like the shepherds
who were also graced with a special revelation, Mary glorified and praised God
for Who He was in her life. We have here one the highest forms of prayer.
Unlike the prayers of thanksgiving, of petition, or the prayer of forgiveness,
all which involve a huge portion of "self," the prayer of praise
focuses on the mystery of God. It is the prayer of self-forgetfulness and the
recognition of God's majesty.
Mary's heart was
large. It contained not only reflections of God's marvelous deeds, but it also
housed all she met. The shepherds were offered hospitality as were the
disciples that Jesus would later call to ministry. Neighbors received a warm
welcome as did strangers at the well. Mary's heart was more than reflective, it
was a haven for all who needed to experience God's love.
Today, as we
reflect and honor Mary, we can say to her, at least in our hearts without the
use of words, "My Mother," and feel that she is protecting us and
encouraging us to begin this New Year that God has given us with the confidence
of one who knows he is well looked after and is being given help from heaven.