Rest from the Journey: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

The Readings for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, is a Holy Day of Obligation

The First Reading today speaks of the way the priests of Israel were to bless the people.  The line that catches my attention is "The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!"  Until the Incarnation and Nativity of our Lord, these words were metaphor expressing the hope that God's love and graciousness be shown to mankind.  How fitting it is that these words be fulfilled in the ultimate sign of God's graciousness, the Incarnation of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  In ancient times, a theophany of God, such as His appearance in the burning bush or upon Mt. Sinai, would have been the most incredible thing anyone could have seen; awe-inspiring and ineffable, these appearances led many to faith in the God of Israel.

Yet in our Gospel Reading, we hear that the shepherds went forth following the theophany of angels, a whole multitude, more than the Scriptures tell us has ever before been seen, to seek out an Infant lying in a manger.  The power of the theophany, God appearing indirectly through His creation in miraculous ways, has been replaced by God's appearing directly.  At Christmas, the Lord has let His face shine upon us!  We no longer have need of searching Him out; He has come to us and the message of the angels has passed through the shepherds to us today, so that the glorious announcement of that day reaches our ears with joy this Christmas Season.

Revealing Himself is not enough for God's generosity.  No, rather He reveals Himself be becoming visible to our eyes in our own flesh, and makes us His sons and daughters, as the Second Reading tells us.  Through His grace, we have the blessing of receiving His inheritance and through Him, we become theophanies ourselves.  Let us go out into all the world and spread the Good News!  Let us shine as beacons of faith, hope, and charity to all peoples!  Let us take our role as the children of God!  We have set before us a noble task.  Let us not disappoint.


His Servant and Yours,

Micah