Jesus is the Word made flesh and he is in our midst.  Those who do not fail to see and hear him, and do what he says, turn into relatives of his.

It looks like Jesus does not find it hard to see and hear folks tell him, “Your mother and brother are out there and want to see you.” For he makes clear right away what it means to be part of his family. He says his mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and carry it out.

And he gets to see and hear also a woman cry out, “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breast that nursed you.” So, he teaches once more that to be part of his family is not about blood ties. It has to do, rather, with hearing and doing what God says.

And Mary is blessed both for being Jesus’ mother and for hearing and doing what God says. We see and hear take God at his word, as the angel Gabriel gives it to her. Not like Zechariah who wants to know, she is in wonder of what the angels says to her.

She also keeps God’s words that the shepherds speak, and she reflects on them in her heart. She does the same with his words that she discerns in the events surrounding Jesus. And she is at his beck and call.

Mary, model for those who strive to see and hear the one who is the Word that became flesh 

Due to all this, Mary shines forth as the model of virtues for us who are the Church (LG 65). To be of the community of those Jesus chooses means to be at his beck and call. It is to see and hear the one who is the Word made flesh. It is to know Scriptures, for not to know them is not to know Christ.

And he is in our midst. Hence, we can see and hear him, above all in the least of his brothers and sisters. Through them, God lets us know what he wants us to do (see SV.EN XII:82). And does he not tell us that the children who suffer and die in wars bear Jesus’ name?

We also are to be lowly like Mary. She admits she is the Lord’s lowly servant on whom he has looked kindly. This is to say that we have to attribute all that is good to his grace and blessings (SV.EN VII:305).

And we are to stay true the God’s Word like Mary. She, the Mother of God, stands by the Jesus’ cross with other women of faith and truth. There she is, yes, till the very moment he dies, till he gives up his body and sheds his blood.

Lord Jesus, give us eyes and a heart that turn toward those who are poor, so that we may see and hear you in them. And make us heirs, with you, of the kingdom of heaven.

1 January 2024
Holy Mary, Mother of God (B)
Num 6, 22- 27; Gal 4, 4-7; Lk 2, 16-21