Luke 2:16-21

Numbers 6:22-27

Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

Galatians 4:4-7

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.

Opening Prayer: Mary, I venerate you today as the Mother of God. You said “Yes” to God every moment of your life. I want to say “Yes” to God as you did. Help me and guide me with your maternal care today.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Blessing with the Divine Name: In the Book of Exodus, God graciously revealed his name to Moses. This mysterious divine name was spelled with the Hebrew consonants “Y-H-W-H” and meant “to be” or “he who is.” Out of respect for the divine name, the Jews after the Babylonian exile ceased to pronounce the divine name out loud in the assembly and would substitute the title “Lord” (Hebrew: Adonai) for it. However, once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), the High Priest would use the divine name (YHWH) and bless the people with the triple blessing we heard in Numbers 6. The idea is that by invoking the divine name, the high priest would make God present in a mysterious way to the people of Israel. In the ancient priestly blessing, the divine name is invoked three times and asks the Lord God for protection, graciousness, and peace.

2. Blessed Mary: Mary is truly and perfectly blessed by God. She isn’t just blessed three times with the divine name by the high priest; she is truly full of grace and blessed to conceive and give birth to the very Son of God. And we, as Christians, are truly blessed to receive the grace of divine sonship and have the Triune God dwell within us through grace.

3. Mary, the God-bearer: In 431, the Council of Ephesus was called to respond to the heresy of Nestorius, who denied the union of the divine and human natures in the Person of the Son. Nestorius denied that Jesus was truly God and called Jesus the “God-carrier” (Greek: Theo-phoros). He likened him to a prophet who was inspired by God. According to Nestorius, then, Mary was only the Christ-bearer (Greek: Christo-tokos). The Council condemned the heresy of Nestorius and declared that Mary, who conceived and gave birth to the Son of God, was truly the God-bearer (Greek: Theo-tokos). There are solid biblical reasons for giving Mary the title “God-bearer” or “Mother of God.” The prophecy of Isaiah implicitly contains this title, and says that the virgin will bear a son who is “God-with-us.” In the New Testament, Matthew applies this prophecy of Isaiah to Mary. Mary is truly the mother of “God-with-us.” As well, Elizabeth, in the Gospel of Luke, gives Mary the title, “Mother of my Lord.” While “Lord” here could refer to the king in Mary’s womb, it can also refer to God. Elizabeth, then, is not only acknowledging Mary as the queen-mother of her Messianic King but is also acknowledging her as the Mother of God.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you made the womb of Mary your holy dwelling place. You lovingly sanctified her and guided her along the path of holiness. Dwell in me today and sanctify my soul with your grace so that I may bring your merciful love to those around me.

Resolution: In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus tells the crowds that whoever does the will of his Father is not only his brother and sister but also his mother (Mark 3:35). How can I be a mother to Jesus? Very simply by bearing and bringing Jesus into the world and the lives of those around me by doing God’s will. What is God’s will for me today?