Mary 'brought forth into the world the eternal light, Jesus Christ our Lord.' Sunday Reflections, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

 

Adoration of the Shepherds [London]

Rembrandt [Web Gallery of Art]

And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger (Luke 2:16).

Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa)

Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA)

Gospel Luke 2:16-21 (English Standard Version Anglicised: India)  

And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Léachtaí i nGaeilge 

Adoration of the Shepherds [Munich]

Rembrandt [Web Gallery of Art]

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart (Luke 2:19).

In 2002 I was assigned for five months in Glasgow, Scotland, doing mission appeals in different parishes for the Columbans every weekend. One day in a large shopping mall I had need to go to the men's room. It was the cleanest public toilet I had ever seen in my life. The janitor happened to be there and I told him so. His face lit up with a joy I have never forgotten.

One of the themes running through today's Mass is 'light'. The alternative Entrance Antiphon, reflecting both Isaiah and Luke, opens with the words Today a light will shine upon us, for the Lord is born for us. The First Reading, from the Book of Numbers, has the Blessing of Aaron, given to him by the Lord through his brother Moses: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26).

This in turn is echoed by the Responsorial Psalm (Ps 66 [67]): God, be gracious and bless us and let your face shed its light upon us. The Preface furthers the theme of light with these words: For by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit she conceived your Only Begotten Son, and without losing the glory of virginity, brought forth into the world the eternal light, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The magnificent opening of St John's Gospel, read on Christmas Day at the Mass During the Day and also at Mass on the last day of the year, tells us who Jesus is: In the beginning was the Word . . . and the Word was God . . .  In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.  The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Many of the great artists have painted the Adoration of the Shepherds. Above are two paintings by Rembrandt, who was a master of light and darkness. In both Mary is presenting her Son to the Shepherds with utter trust. And it is clear that Rembrandt understood that Jesus is the true light, which enlightens everyone, that Mary had brought forth into the world the eternal light, Jesus Christ our Lord.

We see the words of the Entrance Antiphon being fulfilled in both paintings, Today a light will shine upon us, for the Lord is born for us. The faces of Mary, Joseph and the shepherds represent our faces, lit up with the eternal light, Jesus Christ our Lord who came among us through Mary so that, in the words of the Prayer after Communion, it may lead us to eternal life.

The shepherds who visited Jesus, Mary and Joseph were not at the top of the social ladder in Judea and the janitor I met in Glasgow was not on top of the social ladder in Scotland and was probably ignored by most of those he served. I like to think that the day I met him he experienced something of the light of Christ when I thanked him for his work. I know that to this day the Lord has made his face shine upon me whenever I recall that encounter. So often the Lord Jesus makes his face shine upon us through those considered unimportant or not even noticed.

The janitor probably told his wife and family and others about it, as I have often done, and as did the shepherds about their experience. St Luke tells us that all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. St John's Gospel says of St John the Baptist, He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.

We too are called to do the same so that all may come to know and to believe in Jesus Christ. The shepherds were the first to welcome our Saviour into the world and to proclaim him. And, in a real sense, they welcomed Mary and Joseph when they knelt down and worshipped the Child whom Mary presented to them so trustingly and whom she continues to present to us.

God touched Mary through these shepherds and she treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And Jesus invites those of us who, for whatever reason, illness, disability or age, are no longer as active as we used to be, to treasure up, as Mary did, all these things, pondering them in our hearts.

And as we take part in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass this weekend we shall be following the shepherds who returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.

May we pray in a special way at Mass for Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI who constantly reminded us that our faith as Christians is in a Person, Our Lord Jesus Christ, God who became Man, the One the shepherds adored in Bethlehem.

Carol of the Bells

I never knew until this Christmas that Carol of the Bells is of Ukrainian origin. Look at and listen to this delightful rendition of the original Ukrainian carol on the full screen.

May the Lord lift up his countenance upon the people of Ukraine and give them peace.

 

Traditional Latin Mass

Octave-Day of the Nativity

The Complete Mass in Latin and English is here. (Adjust the date at the top of that page to 1-1-2023 if necessary).

Epistle: Titus 2:11-15. Gospel: Luke 2:21.

Circumcision of Jesus

Blessed Fra Angelico [Web Gallery of Art]

And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb (Luke 2:21).