January 01, 2021. Homily for the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God; (Year B)

Readings: Nm 6:22-27; Gal. 4:4-7; Lk. 2:16-21

Mary Ever Virgin, The Blessed One!

1.     Today is New Year’s Day. It is right that we should give thanks and praises to God for bringing us to another year of favor. Though last year brought so many changes in our lives, desirable and undesirable, as individuals and as a nation, we were able to celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas. On this first day of the month of January, we celebrate the solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God.  We thank God for the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Christ. Because the Blessed Mother said ‘Yes’ to God, Christ was born to take away our sins and reconcile us to one another and to God the father. At Christmas, we celebrated the glory of God revealed in the human birth of his Son. Today, we celebrate the effects of this birth on us. Mary our mother, plays an important role in both. When we acknowledge her as the Mother of God, we acknowledge her as the Mother of the Church, inasmuch as the Church is the Body of Christ, her Son.

2.     At the beginning of this year, the first reading from the book of Numbers teaches us how to address one another, by invoking the name of the Lord in the threefold blessing. “Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them: This is how you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them: The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace! So, shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them.” (Num. 6:22-27). This invocation of his name was the invocation of his person, of his power, of his love and peace. We are told: “So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Jesus is the one whose name will be invoked in every blessing. He is the “Lord” who is gracious to us and gives us peace.

3.     The Blessed virgin Mary has always been the favored one of God. At the annunciation, the angel greeted her, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” (Lk. 1:28). Again, in verse 30, the angel assured her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” When Mary visited her cousin, Elizabeth, she cried out: “Most blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (Lk. 1:42). Mary, herself acknowledged how very blessed she was, as she told Elizabeth, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him.” (Lk.1:46-50).

4.     In the Old Testament, according to Eugene Maly, “The mother was given much respect. We glimpse this already in the first mother whose prestigious name of Eve meant “mother of all the living” (Gen. 3:20). The queen mother had a special place in the royal court, seated on a throne at the right of her king-son (1King 2:19). Paul, in the second reading referred to Mary, though not by name, indicating the very important role that she played in the salvation of the world.” Mary was needed and chosen by God to show the manner of our redemption. Jesus Christ was, by divine necessity, born of a woman. Today is Mary’s feast, not because she initiated salvation, but because she was the willing virgin who gave birth to God’s Son. The respect we give Mary today is not because she was a goddess, but because God honored and blessed her first, and so we thank and bless her for allowing herself to be a willing instrument in the hand of God, to be the channel of grace and blessing to the whole world. She gave birth to the Son of God, the savior of the world.

5.     So, we should talk and bless one another, at the beginning of this year, as we are blessed by God. We know our words have power. If you do not want your child to be foolish, do not call him a fool. Do not wish anyone what you do not want to happen to that person. Let us use our words to bless and not to curse people. God blessed Mary even before she was conceived in the womb of her mother. He blessed her when she was chosen for her motherhood role and today, as she said, “From now on will all ages call me blessed”, may we learn to bless and not curse. Let me conclude by invoking these words of blessing on us all: The Lord bless you and keep you! Amen. The Lord let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you! Amen. The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!” Amen.  

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP