THE OCTAVE DAY OF THE NATIVITY OF THE LORD; SOLEMNITY OF MARY, THE HOLY MOTHER OF GOD

Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. 

Happy New Year! All of us here at The Word Among Us pray that God will shower you and your loved ones with many blessings in 2022.

Today is also the day when we honor the Virgin Mary with the title Mother of God. We honor her not only as the earthly mother of Jesus of Nazareth but as the God-bearer, the immaculate Virgin who gave the Son of God flesh and blood. This feast tells us that Mary is not just Jesus’ biological mother; she is his spiritual mother as well.

Think of all the spiritual lessons that Mary taught Jesus. It was from her that he first heard the words “May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Just imagine the child Jesus drinking in these words and turning them into his own prayer: “Your will be done” (Matthew 6:10; 26:42; see John 8:29). Or think of how Mary taught him humility as well as openness to the Holy Spirit and unbending trust in his heavenly Father. Just imagine how many other ways this holy, loving, and prayerful woman helped to guide his early life!

Not all of us have mothers, spiritual or otherwise, to guide us in our faith. But we all have Mary, the perfect spiritual mother. Through her prayers of intercession, she continues to care for us. Through her example in Scripture and her messages in places like Lourdes and Fatima, she continues to teach us how to reflect on the word of God. And through her motherly love, she is always ready to embrace us and draw us closer to her Son. Truly, she is blessed among women—and we are blessed to have her!

“Jesus, thank you for sharing your mother with us. Holy Mary, pray for us. May this be a year of blessing and growth for all your children!”

Numbers 6:22-27
Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8
Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 2:16-21