Friday September 8, 2017
We always read about Jesus on the days we honor Mary. It is her child and the Incarnation-God becoming flesh/human in the world; our hope, our salvation, our life; God who makes us human. The child is born in Bethlehem-a place of no consequence but will bring forth a shepherd in the strength of God who shall reach the ends of the earth and shall be peace.
All things work together for God. God's Son is the first born of many brothers and sisters-we are all given birth in Jesus and given to God. Mary was given birth (by her parents like all of us) but it was her child, the Son of the Father, who gave birth to her in the power of the Spirit, giving her back to the Father, as each of us is given over to God.
We are all called to give birth to the Word in our flesh and to celebrate our birthdays-born in the world, born into Christ, hidden in God in our baptisms, and born into the Body of Christ, the Church. Happy Birthday to Mary and to us all.
Alternative
Of course there is nothing in the gospels about the birth of Mary. But it’s interesting that the text used for this feast is an account of the birth of Jesus.
In a sense, when a child is born a mother is born. When a child is born, its mother begins to be a mother. Even if she was already mother to other children this new child makes her a new mother; a new chapter in her mothering begins. In the birth of the Son of God, Mary begins to be the Mother of God.
Icons of the “Theotokos” (Greek for “God-bearer”) are common now in the West. Historically the term had great importance because the Nestorians, who effectively said that Christ was two persons—a divine and a human—were opposed to its use, claiming that it neglected the humanity of Christ. The Council of Ephesus (431) asserted against the Nestorians that Mary was truly the “Theotokos,” the God-bearer, or Mother of God: this was a clear way of stating the unity of Christ. The Council of Chalcedon (451) continued the use of this term, and it has become orthodox Christian teaching. Note that it is more a statement about Christ than about Mary—or rather, equally so. When a Child is born, a Mother is born.
