Homily: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

1/1/2015

"And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart."

- Lk 2:19

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

It's hard to believe that it is 2015 already, wow! In addition to being the beginning of the civil calender year, today is also the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. On this feast the Church honors Mary under her title of Theotokos or "God-bearer" (as she is called in the East), or Mother of God (as she is called in the West), which was solemnly defined during the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD. As always, Marian feasts are never truly just about Mary; she always points the way to her Son. The council Fathers chose this title because it reveals the Truth that Jesus both fully human, and fully divine. That is to say that Jesus is one person, but with two natures (human and divine).

Here is the Gospel reading for today, and my homily. Enjoy!

LK 2:16-21

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known the message
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
just as it had been told to them.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision,
he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.