Mary’s Mother of God and our Mother

You Need a Spiritual Family?

It’s another New Year and I guess nearly every one of us today asks the same question: What will this year bring’s. Apart from the good things, we also experienced catastrophes, violence, terror attacks in different parts of the world; there might have been the death of someone close to us; there were personal problems, problems in the family. We feel so vulnerable, often helpless, in this our world and society. It is understandable then that most of us look with some anxiety toward the year we begin today.

Today the Church celebrates the feast of the Blessed Mother under the title Mother of God, Mary is rightly called the Mother of God because Jesus, her Son, is God. Both cannot be separated from each other. Mary’s motherhood began when in Nazareth she gave her fiat (let it be done according to your word). But when she stood some decades later beneath the cross of her Son, her maternal vocation and mission received another dimension.

With the words, Woman, behold your Son and Behold your Mother, Jesus gave His Mother to His future community, represented by His beloved disciple. The Mother of God also became our Mother.

Mary, the Mother of God and our Mother, was the best mother one can imagine. She always stayed close to her Son, especially when He was in danger, when He was persecuted, even when He was in His last agony.

We now look at the moving scene of Mother and Child in Bethlehem. We also look ahead to that moment when Mary was given the task to care for us as a loving Mother. Many of us have experienced her maternal closeness and help. We cannot but thank her for carrying us through the difficulties of life and for protecting us from danger and harm.

A consoling answer to our question earlier emerges from today’s feast, it will be another year with our heavenly Mother. Fr. Rudy Horst

Reflection Question:

In which area of my life do I most need the assistance of Mother Mary?

Mary, Mother of God and my Mother too, accompany my loved ones and me this New Year. With you at my side, I can face whatever is God’s plan for me. Mother, I need you. Please, never leave me alone.

St. Clarus, abbot, pray for us.