Today is the Feast of Mary the Mother of God. For us who have heard this term for many years it is not unusual and even though there is something a bit mysterious about it we accept it and we believe it: in fact, it is derived from the very profession of faith that we make on Sundays and Holy Days.
But in the early years of the Church things were not all that easy – and how it got its reference from the creed is an interesting thing. From the early years in the Church until the fourth century no one really questioned the fact that Mary was the Mother of Jesus, the Mother of God's Son. But, in the fourth century a bishop of the Eastern Church named Nestorius decided to question the whole concept and so he said that Jesus had two natures (one human, one divine) and two persons (one human, one divine). Of course this is not true! The One Person with the Divine Nature (God's Son, the Word of God) took into his One Personhood a complete human nature (all except for the sinful part). And so we have with Jesus One Person having two natures!
It was at a Church Council of Nicea that the matter was cleared up and Mary then once and for all time was recognized as the Mother of the Man Jesus, who was also God from God, light from light, true God from true God, and therefore Mother of God: the Nestorian heresy was squelched.
On this the Feast of the Maternity of the Mother of God – maybe we can pause for a moment and reflect on what all this means, much like Mary pondered all these happenings as she contemplated her newborn son in the manger. This babe, this child, this Emmanuel, this Messiah would make all the difference in the world for everyone! Mary knew her Jewish history – she knew the significance of the Messiah – she knew that her child would be the ransom that was necessary so that all might be free, all might be holy again, all might be acceptable in the sight of God the Father forever. She was very happy and very sad at the same time, for she knew that to bring it all about he would suffer much, but triumph in the end!
And so, she cried out: "Abba, Father!" ["Father, I give you your Son, I give you my Son – be with him constantly to help him grow in wisdom, and grace in your sight, I will be with him too to teach him – protect him from the Enemy and listen to his every prayer, I will listen to his prayers too. I stand in awe of your plan for the adoption of humanity as your true sons and daughters – I will help our son in any way I can, I will help my spiritual children too if they ask! Glory, praise and thanks to you, Abba, Father!"]
And now my little Messiah sleep in the peace of heaven while there is still time, for there is much work to do – people are waiting for you!
Perhaps our New Year's Resolution could be to bless others, to be gracious to them and to look kindly on them all as God our Father has done and continues to do for us – and maybe there will be "peace on earth and good will toward all men" and God's Kingdom will be more visible than ever!
Hail, Mary, gentle woman, pray for us, now, and the hour of our death! Amen!
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