4. Holy Mary, Mother of God

FIRST READING

    God sent his Son, born of a woman.

Galatians 4:4-7

Brothers and sisters:

When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son,

born of a woman, born under the law,

to ransom those under the law,

so that we might receive adoption as sons.

As proof that you are sons,

God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,

crying out, “Abba, Father!”

So you are no longer a slave but a son,

and if a son then also an heir, through God.

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Commentary on Gal 4:4-7

“God sent his Son, born of a woman.” This passage, taken as part of the Gospel proclaimed by St. Paul, provides the Galatians with the important fact that Mary gave birth to Jesus. He did not mystically appear to us. Jesus is (was) true man: meaning he went through the biological birth process. It also means that Mary, the Mother of God, went through the difficult physical process of giving birth.

St. Paul goes on to remind us that, through this action, we are all adopted by God and are entitled to call God our Father, “Abba,” a familial term of endearment (translated into American usage as “daddy”). This term would never have been used by contemporary Hebrews as it would have been considered too familiar.

CCC: Gal 4:1-7 1972; Gal 4:4-5 422; Gal 4:4 484, 488, 527, 531, 580, 702; Gal 4:5-7 1265; Gal 4:6 683, 689, 693, 742, 1695, 2766

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RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 22:4-6,10-11, 23-24

R. (See lib) From my mother's womb, O Lord, you are my God.

LORD, you are enthroned as the Holy One;

you are the glory of Israel.

In you our ancestors trusted;

they trusted and you rescued them.

To you they cried out and they escaped;

in you they trusted and were not disappointed.

R. From my mother's womb, O Lord, you are my God.

Yet you drew me forth from the womb,

made me safe at my mother's breast.

Upon you I was thrust from the womb;

since birth you are my God.

R. From my mother's womb, O Lord, you are my God.

Then I will proclaim your name to the assembly;

in the community I will praise you:

"You who fear the LORD, give praise!

All descendants of Jacob, give honor;

show reverence, all descendants of Israel!"

R. From my mother's womb, O Lord, you are my God.

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Commentary for Ps 22:4-6,10-11, 23-24

Psalm 22 is an individual lament. The psalmist has experienced deliverance and gives thanks to God. Praise is offered, first birth then for a mother's comfort.  From the very beginning, the psalmist proclaims faithfulness to God.  As a member of God's favored race (descendants of Jacob) praise and reverence is pledged.

CCC: Ps 22 304; Ps 22:10-11 2270

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GOSPEL  The shepherds found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.

 

Luke 2:15b-19

The shepherds said to one another,

“Let us go, then, to Bethlehem

to see this thing that has taken place,

which the Lord has made known to us.”

So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph,

and the infant lying in the manger.

When they saw this,

they made known the message

that had been told them about this child.

All who heard it were amazed

by what had been told them by the shepherds.

And Mary kept all these things,

reflecting on them in her heart.

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Commentary on Lk 2:15b-19

The message, given to the shepherds by choirs of angels that they in turn brought to Mary was: “For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger." (Luke 2 11-12) This encounter with the shepherds further reinforces Mary’s faith, the acceptance of her child’s role as explained to her by the Archangel Gabriel when this wonderful and tragic journey began. She keeps and reflects in her heart about her son many times in his short life among us.

CCC: Lk 2:19 2599

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