Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

Today's Mass Readings

When I was a young monk, the abbot wanted me to take voice lessons to improve my singing. Probably because he wanted more investment on my part, so he did not order me, only suggested it. It was obvious, though, that he wanted me to do this. I joked that my parents would be up to visit the monastery, and if he really wanted me to go to singing lessons, he should tell my mother about it (a music teacher herself), and she would never let me hear the end of it until I capitulated. To this the abbot brushed aside the possibility as something he would certainly never do. Then, when I greeted my parents, my mom said, “The abbot tells me you’re going to take voice lessons?”

In the second chapter of 2 Kings, the newly anointed King Solomon greets his mother, Queen mother Bathsheba, bowing to the ground and seating her at a throne to his right. He tells her, “I cannot deny you anything, O blessed lady” (v. 20). In the tradition this line is seen as the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her Son, Jesus, the heir to David’s eternal throne. (In truth, Solomon gave her his word but counteracted her request. That is okay, because there is something greater than Solomon in Christ (cf. Mt. 12:42, Lk. 11:31) and also in Mary!)

Today’s liturgical feast is rooted Church doctrine: that Mary is not simply the mother of Christ’s human nature, but in fact, Mother of God. It is important that the humanity and divinity of the Lord are united without mingling or being diminished. Only God could save us, and only man could die as our ransom. If the one man, Adam, ushered in sin to humanity’s story, then the New Adam, Christ, would usher in grace and salvation (cf. Rom. 5:12ff). He becomes the New Adam, but Mary is the New Eve. We are adopted sons and heirs through Jesus, born as new spiritual children through our Mother Mary. And she intercedes for all her sons and daughters, and the Son, Our King, cannot deny her anything.

Reflection by Fr. Pachomius Meade, OSB