Here is the reflection I prepared for the celebration of the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God which the Church commemorates on this day.
Throughout the Advent period, the scriptures introduced us to the people who played various roles in the story that is unfolding during the time of Christmas. First there was John: the one who prepared the way; then we met Mary and through her, we also met Joseph and others who were part of their respective families. During the Christmas season too, we are invited to see the nativity through the eyes of all those who were there. We have already heard about angels who appeared to shepherds in the fields. Today’s gospel passage speaks of the visit of the shepherds who went with haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger (Lk 2:16), but in the context of today’s liturgy, the shepherds’ visit allows us to focus on Mary.
On this day, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary who we recognize as the Holy Mother of God. Today, we also commemorate the fifty-second World Day of Peace. Saint Luke tells us that Mary was contemplative. At the moment of the Annunciation, she treasured the angel’s words and pondered them in her heart. All mothers ponder! Pregnancy itself invites such an attitude, as an expectant mother is increasingly conscious of the new life that is growing within her so it should not surprise us to hear that Mary treasured the words she heard and pondered them in her heart (cf Lk 2:19).
For generations – even before the time of Mary – the words of Aaron’s blessing had been spoken on a daily basis in all Jewish homes. Both Mary and Joseph had heard these words from the days of their childhood. Mary probably pondered the words of that blessing too: May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace (Nm 6:24-26).
Perhaps on many occasions even during her pregnancy, she had pondered these words. Perhaps she had wondered all along the road from Nazareth to Bethlehem how it was that God was blessing her and her beloved Joseph. Perhaps she marvelled at the way God was caring for them – keeping them – by finding a place for her to rest, and then shepherds surprised them by bursting into the cave and telling them about a message they had heard from a choir of angels. Could it really be true that God was blessing all of humanity? Yes.
God kept Joseph and Mary safe throughout all that ordeal. Despite all the obstacles, God orchestrated the safe delivery of Jesus. In spite of the shadows that were looming, God’s face shone on their little family. Mary saw God’s face in the face of her son as he suckled. She saw God’s face in Joseph’s eyes as he gazed in wonder and joy upon the son he had been invited to care for, and she saw God’s face in the other-worldly joy of the shepherds.
Aaron’s blessing spoke of the gift of peace. The shepherds had spoken of angels who had sung a song of peace. Dear brothers and sisters, the nativity invites us all to ponder – like Mary – the wonderful truth that when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son (Gal 4:4) to bring us the gift of his peace.
The Act of Pondering
Throughout the Advent period, the scriptures introduced us to the people who played various roles in the story that is unfolding during the time of Christmas. First there was John: the one who prepared the way; then we met Mary and through her, we also met Joseph and others who were part of their respective families. During the Christmas season too, we are invited to see the nativity through the eyes of all those who were there. We have already heard about angels who appeared to shepherds in the fields. Today’s gospel passage speaks of the visit of the shepherds who went with haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger (Lk 2:16), but in the context of today’s liturgy, the shepherds’ visit allows us to focus on Mary.
On this day, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary who we recognize as the Holy Mother of God. Today, we also commemorate the fifty-second World Day of Peace. Saint Luke tells us that Mary was contemplative. At the moment of the Annunciation, she treasured the angel’s words and pondered them in her heart. All mothers ponder! Pregnancy itself invites such an attitude, as an expectant mother is increasingly conscious of the new life that is growing within her so it should not surprise us to hear that Mary treasured the words she heard and pondered them in her heart (cf Lk 2:19).
For generations – even before the time of Mary – the words of Aaron’s blessing had been spoken on a daily basis in all Jewish homes. Both Mary and Joseph had heard these words from the days of their childhood. Mary probably pondered the words of that blessing too: May the Lord bless you and keep you; may the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; may the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace (Nm 6:24-26).
Perhaps on many occasions even during her pregnancy, she had pondered these words. Perhaps she had wondered all along the road from Nazareth to Bethlehem how it was that God was blessing her and her beloved Joseph. Perhaps she marvelled at the way God was caring for them – keeping them – by finding a place for her to rest, and then shepherds surprised them by bursting into the cave and telling them about a message they had heard from a choir of angels. Could it really be true that God was blessing all of humanity? Yes.
God kept Joseph and Mary safe throughout all that ordeal. Despite all the obstacles, God orchestrated the safe delivery of Jesus. In spite of the shadows that were looming, God’s face shone on their little family. Mary saw God’s face in the face of her son as he suckled. She saw God’s face in Joseph’s eyes as he gazed in wonder and joy upon the son he had been invited to care for, and she saw God’s face in the other-worldly joy of the shepherds.
Aaron’s blessing spoke of the gift of peace. The shepherds had spoken of angels who had sung a song of peace. Dear brothers and sisters, the nativity invites us all to ponder – like Mary – the wonderful truth that when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son (Gal 4:4) to bring us the gift of his peace.
L'acte de la méditation
Tout au long du temps de l'Avent, les Écritures nous ont présenté des personnages qui ont joué divers rôles dans l'histoire qui se déroule pendant la période de Noël. Il y avait d'abord Jean: celui qui préparait le chemin; ensuite nous avons rencontré Marie et à travers elle, nous avons également rencontré Joseph et d'autres personnes qui faisaient partie de leurs familles respectives. Pendant le temps de Noël aussi, nous sommes invités à contempler la nativité à travers les yeux de tous ceux qui étaient là. Nous avons déjà entendu parler des anges qui sont apparus à des bergers dans les champs. Le passage évangélique d'aujourd'hui parle de la visite des bergers qui se hâtèrent d’aller à Bethléem où ils découvrirent Marie et Joseph, avec le nouveau-né couché dans la mangeoire (Lc 2,16), mais dans le contexte de la liturgie d'aujourd'hui, la visite des bergers nous permet de fixer notre regard sur la personne de Marie.
En ce jour, l'Eglise célèbre la Solennité de Marie, la Sainte Mère de Dieu. Nous commémorons également aujourd'hui la cinquante-deuxième Journée mondiale de la paix. Saint Luc nous dit que Marie était contemplative. Au moment de l’Annonciation, elle retenait les paroles de l’ange et les médite dans son cœur. Toutes les mères réfléchissent! La grossesse elle-même incite à une telle attitude, car une future mère est de plus en plus consciente de la nouvelle vie qui se développe en elle, il ne faut donc pas nous surprendre d’entendre que Marie retenait tous ces événements et les méditait dans son coeur (cf Lc 2,19 ).
Depuis des générations, même avant la naissance de Marie, les paroles de la bénédiction d’Aaron étaient prononcées quotidiennement dans tous les foyers juifs. Marie et Joseph avaient tous deux entendu ces paroles depuis leur enfance. Marie a probablement aussi réfléchi aux paroles de cette bénédiction: Que le Seigneur te bénisse et te garde; que le Seigneur fasse briller sur toi son visage, qu’il te prenne en grâce! Que le Seigneur tourne vers toi son visage, qu’il t’apporte la paix (Nm 6,24-26).
Peut-être même à plusieurs reprises pendant sa grossesse, elle avait réfléchi à ces paroles. Tout au long de la route, en allant de Nazareth à Bethléem, elle s’est peut-être demandé comment Dieu la bénissait, ainsi que son bien-aimé Joseph. Elle s’est peut-être émerveillée de la façon dont Dieu s’occupait d'eux - en les gardant - en leur trouvant un lieu de repos ... et puis les bergers les ont surpris en entrant dans la grotte et en leur racontant un message qu'ils avaient entendu de la part d'une chorale d'anges. Serait-il vraiment vrai que Dieu bénissait toute l'humanité? Oui.
Le Seigneur a gardé Joseph et Marie en sécurité tout au long de cette épreuve. Malgré tous les obstacles, Il a orchestré la naissance de Jésus en toute sécurité. En dépit des ombres qui se profilaient, le visage du Seigneur brillait sur leur petite famille. Marie a vu le visage du Seigneur dans le visage de son fils. Elle vit le visage du Seigneur dans les yeux de Joseph alors qu’il contemplait avec émerveillement et joie le fils qu’il avait été invité à protéger, et elle voyait le visage du Seigneur dans la joie surnaturelle des bergers.
La bénédiction d’Aaron a parlé du don de la paix. Les bergers avaient parlé des anges qui avaient chanté un hymne de la paix. Chers frères et soeurs, la nativité nous invite tous à méditer - comme Marie - sur la merveilleuse vérité que, lorsqu’est venue la plénitude des temps, Dieu a envoyé son Fils (Gal 4,4) pour nous apporter le don de sa paix.
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