Solemnity of the BVM, Mother of God (01/01/2025): O God, who through the fruitful virginity of Blessed Mary bestowed on the human race the grace of eternal salvation, grant, we pray, that we may experience the intercession of her, through whom we were found worthy to receive the author of life, our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
Commentary on the Mass Readings for the Octave Day of Christmas, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Cycles A, B, C (01/01/2025):
The First Reading is taken from the Book of Numbers 6:22-27. After the Exodus (or coming out of Egypt) and after God had made a covenant on Mount Sinai with the Chosen People, Moses, on God’s instructions, set the tribe of Levi apart so that they would offer the sacrifices and carry out the liturgy in the name of, and for, the rest of the tribes. The direct line of Aaron, head of the tribe of Levi, were to be the priests who would have the principal part in the offering of the sacrifices and in the other liturgical acts. One of the liturgical acts of the priests was to bless the people after the daily sacrifices and on other solemn occasions. The blessing was a reward for the keeping of the covenant by the people, and a guarantee that the blessing promised to all nations through Abraham would be fulfilled one day. The words of the blessing given by God to Moses are recorded in these verses of the book of Number read at today’s Mass.
The Second Reading is taken from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians 4:4-7. The Galatians—pagans recently converted to Christianity by Paul—were being disturbed in their faith by Judaizers, that is, by Jews who pretended to be Christians but were not. These were telling the new converts that Christianity was not something really new, but only a new form of Judaism, and therefore the converts must accept circumcision and other practices of the old law. Paul in his letter reacts strongly to this falsehood. Christianity is not a reform of Judaism, he states, but is its replacement. Judaism was only a preparation, Christianity is the fulfilment; the old law was but a shadow of things to come, Christianity is the reality.
The “fullness of time has come,” the period of permeation and promise has ended. Men are no longer slaves of the law or slaves of their past pagan polytheism and its practices. They are now free men and new men, sons of God. They can now truly call God “Abba Father” “for God sent his Son born of a woman.” The Incarnation has taken place, men are no longer mere human beings, they have a new life given them in Baptism. They now share in the divine life because Christ has shared their human life with them.
The Gospel of today’s feast is from the Gospel of Luke 2:21. This story of the humble shepherds of Bethlehem coming to find Jesus “in the manger wrapped in swaddling clothe” already read at the Dawn Mass on Christmas Day, is repeated today because of the feast we are celebrating, the Divine Motherhood of Mary. It is the feast of Christmas again, the feast of the Incarnation and birth of our Saviour, but it is Mary’s part in this wonderful mystery of God’s love for men that the Church is stressing today.
Adapted from The Sunday Readings by Keven O’Sullivan, O.F.M.