Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk The Octave Day of Christmas: Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God – January 1, 2017.

Readings: Numbers 6:22-27; Responsorial Psalm PS 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8(R.v.2a); Galatians 4:4-7 & Gospel Luke 2:16-21.

Theme: To God, through Mary.

On the first day of January 2017, the Church presents us with the Mother of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) so that we can learn from her school of love and fidelity to God’s will. Today, of the four Marian Dogmas of the Catholic Church namely, theotokos – Mary as Mother of God, Perpetual Virginity, Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Mary, the Church wants us to reflect on theotokos - namely, Mary as Mother of God.

To achieve this, it is important to understand what a dogma is. Briefly put, a dogma is the official teaching of the Catholic Church pertaining to faith and morals proclaimed by the Magisterium (the teaching body of the Church) through the Roman Pontiff which is binding on all Catholics. Dogmas are lights along the path of faith; they illuminate and make faith secure (John 8:31-32). Built upon divine foundations, dogmas are firmly rooted in scripture as evident in the Holy Scripture (Cf. Matthew 18:18 & 16:18-19, John 21:16 & Luke 10:16).      
                        

Why does the Catholic Church teach that Mary is the Mother of God? Because the child Jesus, who is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, is described as Holy and addressed as the Son of God in Luke 1:35. Mary’s Cousin Elizabeth in Luke 1:43 would also inquire rhetorically, “Why should I be honoured with such a visit by the Mother of my Lord?”                               

Taken as a reference in Aramaic, the title “the Mother of my Lord” would refer to Jesus Christ as Adonai “My Lord.” Theotokos is traced to the Council of Ephesus in 431, the third Ecumenical Council. Earlier, St. Athanasius (373) had argued that theotokos shows that the true humanity of Christ pre-existed.               

Cyril of Alexandra rising against Nestorius, the Patriarch of Constantinople (Turkey) who held that Mary was only the mother of the human Jesus and not God defended the teaching that Mary is theotokos because she gave birth to the Word of God made flesh. Since then, the Catholic Church has upheld the teaching that Christ has two natures, human and divine insisting that the Virgin Mary gave Christ humanity. As such, theotokos simply means “God bearer.”                          

Interestingly, in the Holy Quran, there is no woman mentioned except Maryam, the Mother of Isa, Jesus whom Christians regard as the Christ. Chapter 3 of the Holy Quran is called “family of Maryam” and chapter 19 is titled “Maryam.” Chapter 3:34 says Mary was born without original sin; she never committed any sin in her life and she was ever virgin. Also, Quran chapter 50:23 reveals that she went to heaven with her physical body describing the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven.           

Just as Moses blessed the people in the first reading, we commit ourselves to God’s care while seeking his blessings to “Keep us” and “let his face shine upon us and be gracious to us” and above all, “look upon us with his kindly countenance and grant us his peace.”

As we start a New Year, the Church invites us to imitate the Shepherds in seeking the infant King while assuring us that his Mother, Mary would not refuse to show us her Son. We, therefore, ought to approach the throne of grace with confidence. She did it for the couple at Cana in Galilee when she interceded to spare them of the embarrassment of the shortage of wine (John 2:1-11). She will do no less in our time. However, we must always pay heed to her summon, “Do whatever he tells you.”

The question that readily comes to mind is, what does he tell us? He tells us to love God and our neighbour(s) – Something the BVM always remind us to do. Saint Paul comforts us in the second reading from his letter to the Galatians that we are no longer slaves but sons and daughters and heirs of the Kingdom. This makes it easier for us to make our New Year Commitments in terms of our personal and public lives.

May all our Marian commitments bear fruit in plenty. The First of January is equally a time for prayer of peace. May the peace of Christ reign in our hearts, in our homes and our country Nigeria - Happy New Year!