Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God Luke 2:16-21 The Blessed Virgin Mary, Model of Holiness for Christians
Through the Gospel narrated by St. Luke, we can clearly see that when the shepherds learned from the angel of God that our Lord, God, Jesus Christ had been born among men, they hurried to seek the infant Jesus, who brought hope and salvation to the world. Upon finding him, they spread the news of the child through the angel’s discourse. (See: Luke 1:16-17) However, if we carefully observe the Virgin Mary’s response after these events occurred, we will discover that she did not cling to her identity as the Mother of God; instead, she adopted a contemplative attitude. (See: Luke 1:19) This sets a holy and virtuous example for us. In this ever-changing world, we sometimes find ourselves adored by others, even living during flattery and compliments. Whether it’s admiration or fawning, such adulation does not bring us any tangible benefits in this world. Instead, it can foster pride, making us feel as if we are a flawless being. Sometimes, after achieving certain successes, we often attribute these accomplishments solely to our own efforts, forgetting God, especially the prayers offered by the Virgin Mary before Him on our behalf. Therefore, without God’s creation and the intercession of the Virgin Mary before Him, no matter how great our achievements or how high our social status, they cannot earn us eternal rewards when we ultimately face God’s just judgment at the end of our lives. Therefore, we should learn from the Virgin Mary in our lives, learning to carry out God’s will in all things. Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us before the Lord, that we may be worthy to receive His grace. Amen.
The Seventh Day of the Octave of Christmas Gospel: John 1:1-18 Christ, the Incarnate Divine Word of God
We often have the opportunity to hear everything God proclaims to us through His servants—namely, all about the Kingdom of Heaven, as revealed by our Lord Christ, the Divine Word of God, who came down from heaven by the power of the Holy Spirit and assumed flesh from the womb of the Virgin Mary.
St. John the Apostle, one of Jesus’ most beloved disciples, summarized the life of Jesus in words both profoundly deep and beautifully simple.
St. John tells us: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (cf. John 1:1-5). This reminds us of that beautiful account in Genesis: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and empty; darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day (cf. Genesis 1:1-5). Thus, we are invited to contemplate God’s profound love for humanity.
Before following Jesus, St. John the Apostle had been a disciple of John the Baptist. Hence, he writes: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness to the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light but came to bear witness to the Light (cf. John 1:6-8). Through this, we are invited to imitate the virtue of St. John the Baptist—always humble, courageously bearing witness to the truth.
St. John also tells us: The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth (cf. John 1:14). This reveals to us that the Divine Word, long awaited by the world, in accordance with His holy will, chose to assume flesh from the Blessed and Most Holy Virgin, appearing among us in the fragile form of a child. In this way, He draws near to us, bestowing upon us His abundant love.
Dear brothers and sisters! The Savior has become incarnate and dwells among us, filling us with unspeakable joy. He desires to reveal to us the redemptive plan of the Father who sent Him. We, too, are called to be Christians—let us share this same joy with everyone, so that the joy of the Savior’s incarnation may fill the world.
Sixth Day of the Octave of Christmas Gospel: Luke 2:36-40 The Canticle of Anne
In daily life, we often experience setbacks brought by life, just like St. Anne did. When faced with the setbacks brought by the prince of this world and his messengers, as well as the pain caused by life, we often fall into despair. Immersed in such emotions, we frequently choose to distance ourselves from God of our own accord.
The prophetess Anna, after seven years of married life with her husband and becoming a widow upon his death (cf. Lk 2:36-37), did not lose faith in God. Instead, through rigorous penance and constant prayer, she quietly awaited the coming of the Messiah (cf. Lk 2:38). When the Blessed Virgin Mary and her spouse, Saint Joseph, brought Jesus to the Temple to present Him to God in accordance with the Law of Moses, she immediately approached to praise God. She proclaimed to all who were hoping for the redemption of Jerusalem the good news that Jesus Christ—the Messiah—had come into the world. In this way, she set an example for us.
Today, let us imitate the prophetess Anna. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, may we discern the holy will of God, courageously proclaim to the world the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ, praise the Lord for all the good He has done for us, and respond worthily to His holy will. Thus, each of us may become a source of blessing for others on their journey toward God.
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