01 January 2015 Daily Saints, Bible Readings, Reflections, Prayer, Promise & Praise..... Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God..... Mary (Mariam: Aramaic: c. 18 BC – c. 41 AD), also known as Saint Mary or the Blessed Virgin Mary, is identified in the Bible[Mt 1:16,18-25][Lk 1:26-56][2:1-7] as the mother of Jesus, the founder of the Christian religion. Christians hold her son Jesus to be the Christ or messiah foretold in Jewish scripture, and the God made flesh. The gospels of Matthew and Luke in the New Testament describe Mary as a virgin (Greek: παρθένος, parthénos).[1] Traditionally, Christians believe that she conceived her son miraculously by the agency of the Holy Spirit. Muslims believe that she conceived her son miraculously by the command of God. This took place when she was already betrothed to Joseph and was awaiting the concluding rite of marriage, the formal home-taking ceremony.[2] She married Joseph and accompanied him to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born.[3] Dale Allison states that in ancient Jewish custom, Mary could have been betrothed at about 12, but does not claim that this did happen in her case.[4] There is no direct evidence of Marys age at betrothal or in pregnancy. The Gospel of Luke begins its account of Marys life with the Annunciation, when the angel Gabriel appeared to her and announced her divine selection to be the mother of Jesus. According to gospel accounts, Mary was present at the Crucifixion of Jesus and is depicted as a member of the early Christian community in Jerusalem. According to Apocryphal writings, she never died but was assumed into Heaven; this is known in Christian teaching as the Assumption. Mary has been venerated since Early Christianity,[5][6] and is considered by millions to be the most meritorious saint of the religion. Christians from Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran churches believe that Mary, as Mother of Jesus, is the Mother of God and the Theotokos, literally Bearer of God. There is significant diversity in the Marian beliefs and devotional practices of major Christian traditions. The Catholic Church holds distinctive Marian dogmas; namely her status as the mother of God; her Immaculate Conception; her perpetual virginity; and her Assumption into heaven.[7] Many Protestants minimize Marys role within Christianity, based on the argued brevity of biblical references.[8] Mary (Maryam) also has a revered position in Islam, where a whole chapter of the Quran is devoted to her, also describing the birth of Jesus. The Octave Day of Christmas Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God Lectionary: 18 Reading 1 Nm 6:22-27 The LORD said to Moses: “Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them: This is how you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them: The LORD bless you and keep you! The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace! So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them.” Responsorial Psalm Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8. R. (2a) May God bless us in his mercy. May God have pity on us and bless us; may he let his face shine upon us. So may your way be known upon earth; among all nations, your salvation. R. May God bless us in his mercy. May the nations be glad and exult because you rule the peoples in equity; the nations on the earth you guide. R. May God bless us in his mercy. May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you! May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear him! R. May God bless us in his mercy. reading 2 Gal 4:4-7 Brothers and sisters: When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. As proof that you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir, through God. Alleluia Heb 1:1-2 R. Alleluia, alleluia. In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 2:16-21 The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Reflections: Whats the significance of a name? For the Jewish people the giving of a name had great importance. When a name was given it represented what that person should be in the future. An unknown name meant that someone could not be completely known. To not acknowledge someones name meant both denial of the person, destruction of their personality, and change in their destiny. A persons name expressed the reality of his or her being at its deepest level. A Jewish male child was named at the time of circumcision, eight days after birth. This rite was instituted by God as an outward sign to single out those who belonged to the chosen people (Genesis 17:10-12). It was a sign of the covenant that God made with Abraham and his posterity. Jesus - the eternal Son of God who was born of a woman to become our Savior In fulfilment of this precept, Marys newborn child is given the name Jesus on the eighth day according to the Jewish custom. Joseph and Mary gave the name Jesus because that is the name given by Gods messenger before Jesus was conceived in Marys womb (Luke 1:31, Matthew 1:21). This name signifies Jesus identity and his mission. The literal Hebrew means the Lord saves. Since God alone can forgive sins and free us from death, it is God who, in Jesus his eternal Son became a man to offer up his life as the atoning sacrifice to save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). The son that Mary bore is both God and man - the Word who was God (John 1:1) and who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). That is why Mary is not only called the mother of the Christ (the Greek word for Messiah in Hebrew) but also the mother of God or Theotokos in Greek which literally means God bearer. Jesus - the name above every other name In the birth and naming of this child we see the wondrous design and plan of God in giving us a Savior who would bring us grace (the gift of Gods favor), mercy, and freedom from the power of sin and the fear of death. The name Jesus signifies that the very name of God is present in the person of his Son who became man for our salvation. Peter the Apostle exclaimed that there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved (Acts 2:12). In the name of Jesus demons flee, cripples walk, the blind see, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised. His name is exalted far above every other name (Philippians 2:9-11). The name Jesus is at the heart of all Christian prayer. It is through and in Jesus that we pray to the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit. Many Christians have died with one word on their lips, the name of Jesus. Do you exalt the name of Jesus and pray with confidence in his name? Lord Jesus Christ, I exalt your name above every other name. For in you I have pardon, mercy, grace and victory over sin and death. You humbled yourself for my sake and for the sake of all sinners by sharing in our humanity and by dying on the cross. Help me to always praise your holy name and to live for your greater glory. ADOPTION PAPERS God sent forth His Son born of a woman, born under the law, to deliver from the law those who were subjected to it, so that we might receive our status as adopted sons. Galatians 4:4-5 To begin this new year, we thank God our Father for choosing to adopt us. This has turned us from slaves into heirs (Gal 4:7). Our alternative to adoption is slavery leading us back into fear (Rm 8:15). If we had not been adopted by God the Father, we would be slaves for our whole lives through fear of death (Heb 2:15). Being adopted by God the Father turns slavery into freedom, fear into security, deprivation into inheritance, despair into hope, misery into joy, and death into life. Therefore, we praise our Father, Who predestined us through Christ Jesus to be His adopted children (Eph 1:5). After Jesus, the Son of God, became the Son of Mary, He saved us and made it possible for us to be adopted sons and daughters of the Father. The Spirit cries out in our hearts: Abba (Father) (Gal 4:6). Rejoice in your Fathers love. Rejoice as adopted children of God. Happy New Year! Prayer: Father, on this world day of prayer for peace and justice, I pray for all to be saved and come to know the truth (1 Tm 2:4). Promise: The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace! Nm 6:24-26 Praise: Praise Jesus, the Son of God and the Son of Mary!....
Posted on: Thu, 01 Jan 2015 08:24:18 +0000
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