Friday, January 1, 2021

Bearer of God

The Church begins each year with the celebration of Mary, Mother of God. Like all Marian feasts, however, it’s not about Mary. In the Church, as in the Bible, Mary always points us to her Son, Jesus. Today’s Solemnly is about the divinity of the Child she bears. 

We have become so accustomed to saying the words, “God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God” that we don’t even think how insanely blasphemous  that sounded to the People of Israel.  And today, once more, there are many people who will accept the idea that Jesus was one of many wise men throughout human history, but not God. Even some Christians will say “son of God” but not embrace the idea that He was God incarnate. And yet, that is our faith. Mary carried within her the God “through whom all things were made.”

But let’s not think this is about abstract theology. It is also about us. It is the ultimate statement of our potential. In the words of St. John, “ But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God”. We too have the ability to share in the Divinity of God. Like Mary, we are called to be bearers of Christ, not symbolically but truly.

As we begin the year 2121, perhaps it would be good for us to who call ourselves Christians to pause and think of who we are, children of God, bearers of Christ. And each day behave like it.