Theotokos

January 1 is celebrated as New Year's Day. The secular world puts much store by the preparatios for New Year's Eve parties of all sorts and kinds. From intimate house parties to large outdoor extravaganzas, people all over the world celebrated this turniing of the year.

The liturgical calendar designates January 1 as the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. The Greek term for this designation is Theotokos. The doctrine of Theotokos was defined in the Church at the Council of Ephesus.

The focus for my reflections shared with the commuity at prayer for this occasion focused on the lessons that we learn from our mothers, and particularly the lessons that we learn about faith from the mother of Jesus. Mary was the first of the disciples, and she in turn helps us to learn the essentials of listening to the promptings of God's spirit, and responding with generous hearts, hands and voices.

Today's feast is one of the few times that the Eastern and the Western Churches celebrate our common ancestry together, so let's give thanks, celebrate and dare to learn together the lessons we glean from this day's adventures.

As always, you can read the text of my reflection entitled A mother's lessons or listen to the recording of the homily as it was delivered during the celebration of the Mass.