Because of her ‘Yes’

Happy New Year to all! The church continues the celebration of Christmas. Most especially on Jan. 1 when  we not only celebrate the Octave Day of Christmas (8th day)  but we also remember Jesus’ mother on the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of God, and honor her role in God’s plan for humanity’s salvation. Hence, we have many reasons to rejoice because of her ‘yes.’

A little background

It was by the pen of Pope St. Paul VI in 1974 that we come to honor Mary on the first of January. One of the fruits of  the Second Vatican Council was an emphasis on devotions, especially to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The council describes the “treasury of the church,” points us to the “infinite value” of the merits of Jesus Christ as redeemer; the merits offered in order for the entire world to be set free from sin and attain communion with God. The treasury includes the prayers and good works of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which are truly immense, unfathomable and pristine in their values before God.”

Considering this, Pope St. Paul VI invited the faithful to a deeper love of Mary, mother of God, as her life leads all souls to Jesus. He attributes a “fitting increase of veneration” and devotion towards the mother of God. Mary most holy, is of sound doctrine and in keeping with our worship and adoration of the Lord, Jesus Christ. He continues, “And the increased knowledge of Mary’s mission has become joyful veneration of her and adoring respect for the wise plan of God, who has placed within his family (the church), as in every home, the figure of a woman, who in a hidden manner and in a spirit of service watches over that family and carefully looks after it until the glorious day of the Lord” (“Apostolic Exhortation of His Holiness Paul VI, Marialis Cultus,” Feb., 2, 1974).

Mother of the living  (Lk 2:16-21)

St. Luke’s Gospel includes the visit of the shepherds. After witnessing the proclamation of “a multitude by the heavenly host with the angel” (Lk 2:13) of the birth of the Messiah, the shepherds “went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph and the infant lying in the manger.” Recall that Mary, herself, went “in haste” (Lk 1:39) to visit her cousin Elizabeth. Both encounters elicited immediacy, together with awe and wonder, of gifts of the Holy Spirit! After encountering the infant Messiah of humble birth, the shepherds echoed the decree of the angels by proclaiming the good news to all they met. Those in turn “were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds” (Lk 2:18). We are called to be shepherds of faith, echoing the mysteries of salvation to all we meet.

We are also called like Mary to reflect in our hearts the early events in the life of Christ and how these connect to God’s plan of salvation. St. John Paul II explained that as the knot of Eve’s disobedience is untied through Mary’s ‘yes,’ so too is Mary’s fiat decisive for the accomplishment of the divine plan of salvation. “Eve brought death, but Mary brings life, so that Mary becomes the mother of the living” (St. John Paul II, “Redemptoris Mater” 19,  1987). Because of her “yes” to being the mother of Christ, we can say “yes” to life in Christ.

Mother of hope

The shepherds went in haste with hope. Hope is one of the three theological virtues having direct interaction with the Blessed Trinity and is foundational for living a moral life. Specifically, hope is desiring for eternal life,  trusting in the promises of Jesus and relying upon the grace of the Holy Spirit to help. We hope for the glory of heaven as we are Christian disciples, following the Lord. We are called to live in hope and share this hope. Mary is our mother of hope, especially in our darkest moments. Pope Francis, speaking at the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in 2017, said, “dear brothers and sisters, let us pray to God with the hope that others will hear us; and let us speak to others with the certainty that God will help us. Indeed, God created us to be a source of hope for others, a true and attainable hope.” Because of her “yes” to hope, we can say “yes” to a life of hope.

Mother of the light

We celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord on the last Sunday of the Christmas season. The prophet Isaiah describes the radiant light of 
the glory of the Lord which pierces the darkness of the earth and illumines a passage for nations and kings to travel. Moreover, the radiance of God shines from those who behold it with their own eyes. The faithful beam with glory while offering praise from the depths of their hearts. Their eyes are raised in the splendor of the Lord.

From this LIGHT comes the true LIGHT that draws us nearer to God.  In the Gospel of St. Matthew, we hear of a guiding light, whom theologians teach is an angel that captures the sight of three Magi. Aware of the prophecies foretold of the expectation of a Messiah, they respond to the heavenly guide in the firmament and follow it. They were led to “the child with Mary his mother” (Mt 2: 11).  This face-to-face encounter with Jesus and his mother must have been extraordinary. 

In his encyclical “Deus Caritas Est” (2005) Pope Benedict prays, “Holy Mary, mother of God, you have given the world its true light, Jesus, your son – the son of God. You abandoned yourself completely to God’s call and thus became a wellspring of the goodness that flows forth from him. Show us Jesus. Lead us to him. Teach us to know and love him, so that we too can become capable of true love and be fountains of living water in the midst of a thirsting world.” 

Because she said “yes” and was the living tabernacle of God, the light of Christ in her womb and arms, we can say “yes” and receive the light of Christ in the sacraments, most especially in the Eucharist. Mother of the light, pray for us.

Eucharistic Revival

As you begin 2023, take some time to reflect on Mary as our spiritual mother; the person who cooperated with God’s calling; the person who offers hope; the person who intercedes for us; the person who bears the light of love, the person who points us to her son, our redeemer.  Like Mary, we are called to live our lives through faith, with hope and in love. 

Jesus is our light! His real presence radiates life, hope and light. What challenges am I facing because of my faith? Can I defend the faith when challenged by others? Am I hopeful? Where can I sow hope? How can I love more, as did the Blessed Mother, with sacrifices and all? What about prayer? Am I talking and listening to God? What is the darkness in my life? What needs forgiving and forgiveness? When are confessions heard at church? Has it been a while since I worshipped with my faith family at Mass? Do I take time to kneel before Jesus, fully present in the Blessed Sacrament? What area churches have adoration chapels? How can I be a light of Christ to others in 2023?

Dow is the director of the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.