Motherhood of Mary shows our time is for God

Today, as so many in the world celebrates the beginning of a new year. The Church, likewise, celebrates the Solemnity of the Mother of God. This celebration, in no way admits the divinity of Mary. The Church has always affirmed that Mary is not divine, but she is as close to divinity as any human being can get. She is the daughter of the Father, the mother of the Son and the spouse of the Holy Spirit.

This almost divinity of Mary gives us the confidence we need to begin our New Year with optimism and joy. After the great revelation of the Child in the manger at Bethlehem we have come to believe in the Christmas promise: that our God is with us; that He has come into our world to stay; that He will be with us until the end of time. And that is what New Year is all about — time. And that is what our lives are all about — time. Our lives are a gift of time, a gift that we live in thankfulness to God each day. That is why it is fitting that we start this New Year by honoring Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the holy Mother of God, because through Mary, time was given a new meaning and a new purpose.

Through Mary, our Almighty and eternal God was born in time — to show us that our time is for God.