Homily — Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (2004)

Fr. Timothy W. Castor

Today, the baby Jesus is eight days old. And, in compliance with the law of Moses, he is circumcised as a sign of his entrance into the covenant community of Israel—the people of God. He had no need for this rite (just as he had no need for baptism 30 years later) but it is his Father’s desire that he enter intimately into union with his people and identify with them in every way. This sacred ceremony of the Hebrew religion, however, proves to be a powerful foreshadowing of our Lord’s supreme act of redemption—his death on the cross—because at this moment—at the age of just eight days—Jesus sheds his first drops of blood for us.

Because of this biblical event, the octave day of Christmas was known as the Feast of the Circumcision of the Lord for many, many years. And yet, the liturgical focus of this day has always been the Blessed Virgin Mary and her divine motherhood. It is, possibly, the most ancient feast of Mary in the Church’s calendar. The relatively new title for this day, the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, simply reflects this fact. So, why do we turn toward Mary on this 8^th day of Christmas? We have been adoring the newborn baby! Is the Church asking us now to look away? Certainly not. We still keep our gaze fixed on Jesus in wonder and awe. But today we simply acknowledge his Mother, and we do so for a very particular reason.

We acknowledge Mary in order to affirm a theological truth of our religion—a fundamental, foundational truth—a truth according to which the Christian Faith stands or falls. It is the sublime truth of the Incarnation. God has become man. The one who is pure spirit, who is eternal—without beginning or end—stepped into time and assumed our human flesh. A complete and perfect human nature, with body and soul, was created in the womb of the Virgin Mary and united to the eternal Son of God without any loss to his divinity. He did this out of love for us poor sinners. He did it to redeem us, so that we might share in his divine nature and become one with God. This is why the Church has given Mary the title Mother of God, because the one she bore is true God as well as true man. And this is why we will defend this title as vigorously as we defend the very divinity of Christ.

Now some might object, "Where is this title in the Bible? The New Testament never refers to Mary as the Mother of God." And that’s true. But what does the New Testament say? Listen once again to the words of St. Paul which we heard in today’s second reading: "When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman." Who was born of a woman? God’s only Son. Who is this Son? He is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, the eternal God. And who is this woman? She is the Blessed Virgin Mary. So, if Mary is not the Mother of God, then who’s mother is she?

This is why we turn to Mary on this 8^th day of Christmas: we acknowledge the Mother in order to proclaim the divinity of her Son. But there is yet another reason why we glance lovingly in her direction. As we gaze upon the infant King cradled in her arms, we wish to whisper something in her ear. We want to ask her prayers—her intercession. The opening prayer of today’s Mass (which is a very ancient prayer) reminds us of this. Here is a more accurate translation of the original Latin: "O God, who by the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary has bestowed upon mankind the rewards of everlasting salvation; grant, we beseech you, that we may experience her intercession for us, through whom we have been made worthy to receive the Author of Life, Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord." And just what are the intercessions we whisper to Mary? Well that’s between you and her! Each one of us has special needs which call for our Mother’s help. I encourage you to present those needs to the Virgin Mother that she may present them to her Son. But there is at least one intercession which we all share, and it is also found in the prayers of today’s Mass. We pray, that, just as we celebrate the beginning of God’s grace to us in this holy season of Christmas, we may find its fulfillment—eternal life—together with Blessed Mary Ever-Virgin, who is Mother of God’s begotten Son and Mother of the Church.

© 2004, The Rev. Timothy W. Castor