REFLECTION AND SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
Yesterday, 1st January, was the Solemnity of MARY, MOTHER OF GOD.
THE FOLLOWING COMES FROM ST PAUL'S CENTER FOR BIBLICAL THEOLOGY: "WHY DO WE CALL MARY THE MOTHER OF GOD?"
The first official Marian dogma defined by the Church was Mary’s status as "Mother of God." The Greek word for the title is Theotokos, which literally means “God-bearer”, "God- Carrier". That title is one of the oldest and most commonly used titles for Mary, with Christians using it in the very first centuries of the Church.
The first Christians called Mary the “Mother of God” without hesitation.
There was scriptural precedent, and it seemed logical. If Jesus is God, and Mary was his mother, then that made her the Mother of God.
In the fifth century, however, some people raised objection to the title
as many non-Catholics raise today. They argued that the title “Mother of God”
implied that Mary was the “originator of God.” Those objectors said that they could accept the title “Mother of Christ,” but not “Mother of God.”
At the heart of this was an objection to the unity of Christ’s two natures.
Mary, they claimed, gave birth only to Christ’s human nature, not his divine nature. The Church, led by Pope Celestine I and St. Cyril of Alexandria, disagreed. As St. Cyril pointed out, a mother gives birth to a person, not a nature.
Accordingly, Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ, who was and is a divine person. Although Mary did not “originate” or “generate” God, she did bear Him in her womb and give birth to Him.
She was God’s mother.
The controversy over Mary’s title as “Mother of God” was addressed in 431 A.D. at the Council of Ephesus.
There, more was at stake than simply defending Mary’s title. The Christian teaching about Christ’s two natures was the real issue. The Church wanted to settle one question: Was Jesus one person or two?
Rejecting the teaching of the heretic Nestorius,
the Church declared that Jesus is one divine person, with two natures—
his mother’s human nature and his Father’s divine nature.
Mary did not give Jesus his divine nature or his divine personhood—
those He possessed from all eternity as the only begotten Son of the Father.
But she also didn’t just give Him His flesh:
She gave birth to the whole person.
She gave birth to Jesus Christ, both God and man.
That is what we confess every time we say the Apostles’ Creed.
Mary as the Mother of God” is the link
between her Son’s humanity and divinity.
She is the sign that He is both God and man.
"When does an ordinary life become extraordinary A mundane day become revolutionary A moment in time change history? When God enters in Forgives sin Allows us to begin again. When we repeat Those words of Mary ‘May it be to me As you say’
John Birch
GOSPEL - Luke 2:19-21 Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God
for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child,
he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
“The Word that took root in the darkness of Mary’s womb,
that took flesh and walked around in this world,
that emerged not only in the labouring of a woman
but also in the labouring of generations to follow,
the ancient Word that springs forth anew—
this Word seeks to dwell deeply in us,
to be born into the world through us
in this and every season.”
Jan Richardson,
“The Luminous Word: Living the Advent Hours,”
O God, for whom we long
as a woman in labour longs for her delivery; give us the courage to wait,
and the strength and discernment to know the right time; that we might each bring into the world your joyful peace through Jesus Christ. Amen. Janet Morley
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
This is holy space: God is here.
This is your space to be with God
And God's space to be with you.
Make yourself at home.
Be yourself,
Be real,
There's no rush.
Let God love you,
Let God know you,
Let God heal you,
Let God speak to you.
Receive from God,
Commune with God…..
Silence
In this sound-filled world that we inhabit grant us space to rest awhile
by the still waters of your peace,
to hear the whisper of your voice,
and feel the warmth of your Spirit
within our souls.
Grant us space to rest awhile….
Silence
“My Jesus, I believe that You are present
in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart …
I embrace You as if You were already there
and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You,”
Christ the Son of God perfect in you the image of his glory
and gladden your hearts with the good news of his kingdom;
and may the blessing of almighty God,
✠ the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
come down on you and remain with you for ever. Amen.
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