Mary’s Greatest Honor. Our Gospel for January 1, 2013
January 1, 2013 by bible sharing online
THE VISIT OF THE SHEPHERDS
Luke 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.
ANG PAGBISITA NG MGA PASTOL
Lucas 2:16-21
Sila ay nagmadaling pumunta roon. Nasumpungan nila roon si Maria at si Jose, at ang sanggol na nakahiga sa sabsaban. Pagkakita nila, kanilang ipinamalita ang salitang sinabi sa kanila patungkol sa sanggol na ito.
Ang lahat ng mga nakarinig ay namangha sa mga bagay na sinabi sa kanila ng mga tagapag-alaga ng tupa.
Sinarili ni Maria ang lahat ng mga salitang ito, at isina-alang-alang sa kaniyang puso.
At bumalik ang mga tagapag-alaga ng tupa na niluluwalhati at pinupuri ang Diyos dahil sa lahat ng mga bagay na kanilang narinig at nakita tulad ng pagkasabi sa kanila.
Dumating ang ikawalong araw para sa pagtutuli sa maliit na bata. Ang kaniyang pangalan ay tinawag na Jesus. Ito ang ipinangalan ng anghel bago siya ipinagdalang-tao sa bahay-bata.
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MARY AND JOSEPH AND THE INFANT. Mary is given the greatest honor that a purely human being can have: To be the Mother of God. This does not mean that she is a goddess. She is only a creature. But the Person she conceives and gives birth to is no less than the Son of God, true God. Hence, she is rightly called the Mother of God, which means “the Mother of the Son of God according to His humanity.”
Her chief characteristic as the Mother of God is her union with Jesus. Already in God’s plan, Mary was thought and willed by God together with God’s decision to send God’s Son as man. At the Annunciation, Mary accepted to receive Jesus into her heart and womb. At the Visitation, she carried Jesus with her, and thus Elizabeth called blessed Mary and her Son, the fruit of her womb. And now the shepherds find her with “the infant lying in the manger.” She will be found again together with Jesus at Cana, and occasionally during His public life. She will be with Him on Calvary, at His darkest hour. And now she is with him in the glory of heaven, body and soul.
Mary’s glory is to be with Jesus not only physically but by a union of wills: Like Jesus, she always hears the Word of God and keeps it. As St. Augustine put it, “It would have profited her nothing to be the Mother of Jesus if she had not also been His disciple (follower).”
“My mother and My brothers,” declares Jesus, “are those who hear the word of God and act on it” (Lk 8:21). When we hear God’s word and do God’s will, like Mary, we also give birth to Jesus in the souls of people. With St. Paul we can say, “My children, for whom I am again in labor until Christ be formed in you!” (Gal 4:19).
Like Mary, let us unite ourselves to Jesus in obedience to the Father’s will and, by prayer and works of the apostolate, engender Jesus in the hearts and souls of people.
God bless you always!
SOURCE: “366 Days with the Lord 2012