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by Jose Kurian Puliyeril
Reading: From the Gospel according to St. Luke 8: 16-23.
The Holy Church is glorifying Theotokos – Mother of God on the next day of the Christmas, the day of incarnation of the Son of God whose purpose was to save the entire mankind and the creation from the slavery of Satan and sins. It is only because St. Mary had a significant role in the master plan of salvation. The Holy Church is glorifying the blessed Mother as a token of gratitude for the sufferings, pains and troubles undertaken by Holy Mother in discharging her assignments. Fortunately this year the day falls on a Sunday, so that more faithful could have the blessings.
In today’s reading our Lord identifies Holy Mother as a lamp kept high on its rod to spread the light. Let us listen Him. “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed; but sets it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.” We observe the blessed incarnation of our redeemer as the arrival of the divine light. Our Lord incarnated to remove the darkness of the entire world and entire creation. Our Lord during His public mission announced and taught that He is the real light. In saying so, He wanted us all to inherit the light from Him as much as we could so that we could reflect the same in the areas where light is unavoidably needed. In the nature God has provided the scientific proof of reflection as the Moon provides light in the night. St. Mary, Mother of God was chosen by God Almighty to uphold the light of God to eradicate the darkness from the ones who looked at the divine light. She did her assignment in the most proper way and that is why the generations after generations of the Church are glorifying Theotokos. We are aware of the sufferings, pains and frustrations suffered by St. Mary from the day of annunciation to her from God Almighty and her surrender to the will of God.
But she was held strong enough and capable to solve all hurdles in her life. God provided strength and stamina to suffer all the mental and physical strains and tensions. In the worldly outlook all such experiences were not ideal to address her as blessed. But she faced all challenges in her life with conviction and confession in the mercy of God. She upheld the light as a candle/light stand and slowly she became capable to reflect the light.
In today’s reading we come across an incident where St. Mary had been waiting to have an audience with our Lord. When somebody informed our Lord that His mother had been waiting, our Lord said “My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.” This saying might be misinterpreted as a sign of disrespect of our Lord towards His blessed mother. In fact what He announced was cent percent true. Our Lord said about the listening of the word of God and doing the same in practical life. What St. Mary had done? Was she not dutiful and obedient to the word of God? As and when she had the word of God through Angel Gabriel, she remained obedient to the word of God, undertaking all mental struggles, agonies, tensions and sufferings. There won’t be another human being who has suffered like her for the sake of the word of God. She is still a great example of perfect obedience to the word of God.
No one could say that St. Mary did not perform justice to the word of God. Upon annunciation of the birth of Lord Jesus, she retorted to the Angel admitting that she is a humble, feeble maid of Lord God. And she remained for ever as most humble and obedient maid of God. She could live beyond human expectations and calculations. She was ever and ever obedient to God by giving priority for the will of God in her entire life. She was always away from human pride and selfishness. Our Lord was grateful to her and had a great concern about her, which we could visualize when our Lord remained crucified. Our Lord entrusted Holy Mother to the Holy Church and asked St. John, the Apostle, the representative of the Holy Church to take care of her.
The Holy Church is honoring St. Mary, Mother of God for all her tasks which were essential for the execution of God’s master plan of salvation. Let the continued intercession of St. Mary, Mother of God be a fort of protection for all of us and for the Holy Church.
May God bless us all.
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