Solemnity of Mary,
the Holy Mother of God
(Number 6:22-27; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21)
In southern Italian city of Matera thousands of people lived
in caves until the 1950s. The people farmed
and herded sheep for a subsistence living.
At night they returned to their homes dug out of limestone thousands of
years ago. There they ate and slept
along with their most valuable farm animals.
It is quite possible that Jesus was born in a grotto such as one of
these caves.
Today’s gospel shows the shepherds coming to worship the
newborn Savior. They recognize him in
part by the manger that would have been part of an inhabited cave. The second century Christian philosopher
Justin Martyr, a native of Palestine and familiar with Bethlehem, claims that
Jesus was born in a grotto or cave. Some
of the Fathers of the Church thought this testimony credible. They wrote that in becoming human Jesus descended
to the depths of the earth so that he might redeem all people.
The passage also features Mary. It says that she is reflecting in her heart on
all that is taking place. She realizes
that Jesus’ birth in the humblest conditions has significance. It rebukes the rich and powerful who seek to
control others. She knows that shepherds
represent the poor. They depend upon
Christ as their hope in an often callous world.
And she knows that the angels spoke the truth. They announced the birth of Jesus who saves
us from our sins
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