A Lectio Divina Approach to the Sunday Liturgy
BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (Series 4, n. 6)
Mary, Mother of God, Year B – January 1, 2006
“The Lord Bless You!”
BIBLE READINGS
Nm 6:22-27 // Gal 4:4-7 // Lk 2:16-21
N.B. This new series of BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD: A LECTIO DIVINA APPROACH TO THE SUNDAY LITURGY presents a biblico-liturgical study of the Old Testament reading of each Sunday Mass to serve as background for a better understanding of the Gospel proclaimed in the liturgy. For a biblico-liturgical study of the Gospel for each Sunday, please go to the PDDM Web Archives: WWW.PDDM.US.
I. BIBLICO-LITURGICAL REFLECTIONS
On the Octave of Christmas, we celebrate the oldest Marian feast in the Church, the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. In this Marian feast we celebrate her intimate role in the Christmas mystery as the willing virgin who gave birth to the Son of God. According to Cardinal Leon Joseph Suenens: “We find Mary at the very heart of the mystery of incarnation. She is the mother of the one who will be for all future ages the way, the truth, and the life. The threshold of the one who, above all, can introduce us to Jesus … One cannot see the child apart from his mother, nor the mother apart from the child; for the mystery of the incarnation only yields its full meaning through the faithful cooperation and humble willingness of her whom tradition calls Theotokus. Today’s world needs to rediscover the face of its Savior and of his mother. The world is glutted with philosophies and ideologies which, no matter what they have to offer, do not answer its most vital need, its most fundamental questions. To our contemporary world Mary offers the living and vibrant reality, the incarnate Savior of the world.”
The solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, falls on New Year (January 1), the first day of the civil year – an occasion when people look back on the past and wish each other God’s abundant blessings. It is most opportune that the Old Testament reading for the New Year’s Mass is the Priestly Blessing from the book of Numbers (6:22-27). Prayed in the context of the Christmas-Marian feast, it evokes the truth that Mary, Mother of God, is the utmost recipient of God’s blessing. In the motherhood of Mary, the icon of the blessed of God, the fullness of blessing is given to the world through her divine Child, the Savior of the world - the Priest of the New Covenant.
The biblical scholar, Eugene Maly comments: “The reading from the Book of Numbers contains one of the most beautiful prayers in the Scriptures. It is called the ‘Priestly Blessing’, assigned by God to Aaron and his priestly descendants to be conferred on God’s people … Notable is the threefold repetition of ‘the Lord’ in the threefold blessing. It is the name by which God was known by his people Israel. This invocation of his name was the invocation of his person, of his power, of his love and peace. In Hebrew thought the name is the person and all that the person is and stands for. For that reason God could say, So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them. By placing this reading here the Church is inviting us to see this blessing in its Christian context, and specifically in the context of Christmas. Now it is the name of Jesus that will be invoked in blessing. He is ‘the Lord’ who is gracious to us and gives us peace.”
The exegete, Helen Kenik Mainelli explains the meaning of the threefold blessing: “The blessing itself is one of the first pieces of ancient poetry … The blessing is addressed to you in the singular, meaning the whole of Israel as a corporate entity as well as each individual … The first half of each line invokes Yahweh’s personal act upon the people: bless (v, 24a), let your face shine upon (v. 25a), and look kindly upon (v. 26a). To bless means to pour forth the continual and sustaining power of life that manifests itself in growth, increase, success, fertility, and prosperity (see Gen 24:34-36). Blessing derives from the essential divine being out of which arise the promises: I will bless you. I will make your name great (Gen 12:2); I will be with you and bless you (Gen 26:3). To let Yahweh’s face shine upon means to look with pleasure or favor. Clearly an anthropomorphism used metaphorically, reference to face implies the totality of divine goodness directed to the recipient of the blessing (see Ps 67:2). When Yahweh is gracious toward the people, they see Yahweh’s face. On the other hand, to express displeasure with the people, Yahweh declares, I hide my face. To look kindly upon suggests the bestowal of divine love in gestures of favor and help. Yahweh’s attention is directed toward the one who is dependent and in need of help.”
Helen Kenik Mainelli continues: “Each of these acts of Yahweh is followed by a consequence of the blessing invoked. Yahweh will keep (v. 24b), be gracious (v. 25b), and give peace (v. 26b). To keep means that in consequence of the blessing, Yahweh will protect Israel from the misfortunes that bring about the opposite of life and prosperity, such as childlessness, crop failure, threat from enemies. To be gracious means to show undeserved favor. As a consequence of Yahweh’s face shining upon Israel, this people experience the goodness that derives from divine nature. Finally, Yahweh gives peace as the consequence of looking kindly. The concept of peace is the summation of the act of blessing: May the Lord bless his people with peace (Ps 29:11). It is a term that means much more than freedom from war and discord. Peace is the state of being whole, of completeness, of happiness and harmony, so that a person is capable of a full and free development of life. Peace means the salvation that belongs to those whose lives are totally in harmony with God’s will. The purpose of Jesus’ life was to bring peace.”
Combined with the Gospel episode (Lk 2:16-21) of today’s Marian feast, the Priestly Blessing from the Book of Numbers serves to interpret the Christmas mystery. From the manger, in his Son Jesus, the Lord God blesses us abundantly and protects us. In Christ Child, the icon of the Father’ love, the Lord God lets his face shine upon us and enables us to experience his favor and graciousness. In Mary’s Son, the Prince of Peace, the Lord looks kindly upon us and grants us peace and total salvation. Indeed, in Jesus Christ, the Word of God made flesh, is the fullness of the Father’s benediction to humankind. Moreover, in his Son Jesus, born of Mary, the fullness of blessing and praise – the Eucharist – is rendered to God, our Almighty Father.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
By Mark de Castro
(Professed Member: Holy Family Institute)
Every year and for centuries, Christians celebrate Christmas with joy and amazement. In the Gospel, Luke narrates for us one particular event that took place during the first Christmas. The shepherds who received the “Good News” from the angels told everyone they met that the Child lying in the manger is special. And they were all amazed by what had been told to them by the shepherds.
Our Church today continues to tell us, as the shepherds did two thousand years ago, that Jesus, the child in the manger, is special and is the reason why we have Christmas. Jesus is the promise of our loving God given to humankind. He is his Son, our Savior, - the Way, Truth and Life.
Mary, the Mother of God and our Blessed Mother, who received the “Good News” from the angel Gabriel, though greatly troubled by what has been told, said “YES”. Our Blessed Mother embodies perfect trust in our God and demonstrates perfect humility. Her “YES” to the word of God brought us our Savior. As Jesus suffered to save us, our Mother suffered as well. She is looking after us so that one day we may be reunited with our heavenly Father in paradise.
We need to pray to God and ask our Blessed Mother to intercede for us. Our world is in trouble. We are not at peace, not only towards other nations and other faith, but also not at peace within ourselves.
This season is “CHRISTMAS” because of the birth of our Savior Lord Jesus Christ. It is not mere “Holiday” as the media is proclaiming; it is not just “Winter Celebration” as public schools are telling our school children. THIS IS CHRISTMAS. Let us proclaim it as it had been, now and forever, in our greetings to our neighbors. If we accept this as just a “Holiday”, a generation will come that does not know the birth of Jesus Christ – the birth of salvation.
II. POINTS FOR THE EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
A. Do we take time to contemplate the marvelous Christmas mystery and the vital role of Mary, Mother of God, in the mystery of salvation? Do we bless the Lord for the great “benediction” granted us in Jesus, the Son of Mary?
B. Do we allow the Lord God to bless us and keep us … to let his face shine upon us and be gracious to us … to look kindly upon us and give us peace? Do we look upon Mary as model of receptivity to grace and God’s abundant blessings?
C. Do we endeavor to communicate God’s blessings to the people around us, to the whole world and the entire creation? Do we try to be the “incarnation” of God’s benediction? Do we look forward to the gracious blessings God has reserved for us in this New Year 2006?
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD
(Verses by St. M. –P. Faure; Refrain by Sedulius)
Refrain: Hail, holy Mother! The child to whom you gave birth is the King of heaven and earth forever.
1. See the shimmering dew
illuminating the night!
The barren land becomes fertile.
Mary accepts, dazzled,
the Son of God. (Ref.)
2. See the new flower
from the rod of Jesse!
God’s promise is kept.
He comes, the prophesied child,
the Son of God. (Ref.)
3. See, the burning bush
is not consumed!
Oh! what blessedness for a woman!
The Virgin holds in her arms
the Son of God. (Ref.)
4. See the wondrous exchange
when the Word takes flesh,
when the body is praise!
Life contends with death
for the sons of God. (Ref.)
IV. INTERIORIZATION OF THE WORD
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“The Lord bless you and keep you!
The Lord let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you!
The Lord look kindly upon you and give you peace!” (Nm 6:24-26)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION
A. ACTION PLAN: At the family reunion on New Year’s Day, use the Priestly Blessing as part of the prayer before or after meals, or any other appropriate occasion during the day. With the help of Mary, Mother of God, perform acts of charity and service throughout the New Year 2006 that will bring God’s healing and benediction to the poor, the marginalized, the lonely and the needy, and to the victims of war, violence and injustice in today’s world.
B. ACTION PLAN: To celebrate Mary’s feast and New Year in a more meaningful and prayerful way and in order to give homage to Jesus Savior, Son of Mary, make an effort to spend an hour in Eucharistic Adoration. Visit the PDDM WEB site (www.pddm.us) for the EUCHARISTIC ADORATION THROUGH THE LITURGICAL YEAR (Vol. 2, n. 6): A Weekly Pastoral Tool.
Prepared by Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang PDDM
PIAE DISCIPULAE DIVINI MAGISTRI
SISTER DISCIPLES OF THE DIVINE MASTER
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Website: WWW.PDDM.US