Mary, Mother of God Homily

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Today brings about the conclusion of the Octave of Christmas and what is also currently known to us as the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. This Solemnity is a reflection of what we celebrated only eight days ago on December 25th when we came to celebrate Christmas. Therefore, we acknowledge that the one who dwelt within her womb and who has been born into this world is God made Flesh. To say that Mary is the Mother of God is to point to who her son is. If her child were not God then it would be right and just for us to be upset at calling her such a title, but seeing that her Son is God made Flesh we should find no issue with this title which has been attributed unto her.

Going back to the Annunciation the Angel Gabriel came unto her and said, “Hail full of grace.” From this salutation we can say that Mary has been filled with grace to its fullest degree. Grace is not a gift which we give to ourself, but is a gift which is given to us by God. Therefore, Mary was prepared by God to be this pure and spotless vessel which would bring forth the Savior of this world.  It was only on December 8th that we celebrated the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. It was here that we hold that Mary was conceived and therefore born without sin. After all, she is heralded as being the “New Ark of the Covenant” which is to say that she was without blemish for it was God who was present within her womb for the Ark of Covenant was without blemish because it contained the presence of God.

Mary was given a great foreshadowing of all that was to take place through her interaction with the Angel Gabriel. She was told, “you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.” This name “Jesus” instructs who her child is because this name means “God saves.” Gabriel goes onto state concerning this child, “He will be great and will called Son fo the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” This verse connects Christ to the royal line of David and puts into proper perspective who this child is to be.

We therefore can conclude that Mary did know that Her Son was God made Flesh. This was not just some surprise that would come later in her life as a popular song may attest along with its other statements which attack Mary’s role in salvation history and thus the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. Everything that she needed to know was revealed to her by the Angel Gabriel and all that the prophets had foretold. As Saint Elizabeth would exclaim concerning Mary, “Mother of my Lord.” Truly, this child is not just any child, but is the Word Made Flesh. To Jesus may we go through Mary.

Mary serves as the first tabernacle of Christ for within her womb this child once dwelt. This child now comes to us in all the tabernacles of the world, come let us adore Him. As we enter into this new calendar year, with all its joys and hardships, may we foster devotion to Mary and through this devotion come to know her son more intimately.

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.