The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
Readings: Numbers 6:22–27; Psalm 66(67):2–3, 5, 6, 8; Galatians 4:4–7; Luke 2:16–21
1 January 2024
“Born of a woman.” – Galatians 4:4
I don’t know how old I was when I learned the Hail Mary, but let’s just say that I’ve known it long enough that I can rattle off “holy Mary, Mother of God …” without thinking much about what I’m saying actually means.
I suspect that’s true for a lot of us. Talking about Mary as Mother of God is just so normal it doesn’t strike us as at all odd. We’re so used to the idea of God as one of us, that its utter ridiculousness doesn’t strike us at all.
In the early Church, the scandal attached to the idea of God being born of an ordinary woman was so divisive that they called a council in order to confirm that that is actually what we believe. We do.
No wonder Mary pondered these things in her heart! Imagine watching God Almighty go through the ordinary human experiences of growing from embryo, to foetus, to baby, to child, to teenager, and finally adulthood. Imagine the responsibility of being God’s mother!
Pondering for myself, I am deeply touched by the humility of God. There’s something quite consoling in thinking that God understands from the inside what it’s like to be one of us. That he loved us so much that he joined us in our human experience. He knows the wonder of a sunrise and the joy of a party. But he also knows what it is like to be dependent on another for all of your needs, to suffer, to be humiliated, even to die.
Thank you, Lord, for loving us so much that you were willing to experience what it’s like to be one of us. Please help us never to lose sight of how big your love is. Amen.
Katherine Stone MGL
Katherine Stone MGL is a Missionaries of God’s Love sister living in Varroville NSW. Originally hailing from Tasmania, she joined the MGL Sisters in 2005. Since then, she has lived in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney, studied theology and spiritual direction, and has done a term as formator. These days, her main ministries are spiritual direction, talks and teaching, and retreat giving. She is also the Sisters’ vocations director. Her passion is Jesus—as may be apparent from her ministry, she loves talking about him and to him, and hearing others share their own experiences of him.
With thanks to the Diocese of Wollongong, who have supplied this reflection from their publication, The Sign: Advent and Christmas Reflections 2023. Reproduced with permission.
