1 January 2021
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
Why is Mary the Mother of God? Because she was chosen to bear Him? Is she “most blessed…among women…” because of the fruit of her womb (Luke 1:42)? This is secondary; her blessedness lies in what Elizabeth says of her later: “Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled,” (Luke 1:45). For another woman would later say to Jesus “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed,” to which Our Lord replied “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it,” (Luke 11:27-28). For she became the Mother of God not when “the Word became flesh and made his dwelling,” (John 1:14) within her, but when she, hearing the Word of God through the angel, chose to observe it, saying, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word,” (Luke 1:38). It was in this moment that she conceived the Word of God not in her womb, but in her heart, wherein she treasured and reflected upon all things.