Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
I've always wondered what it was like to have lived under 'law' as Mary (and everyone else) did before the coming of Jesus. The Holy Spirit was certainly at work, but the birth of the Christ through Mary changed everything for humanity—and the entire universe. From that time, in the fullness of time, humanity was given the choice to live in the freedom of the Spirit of God. The challenge, of course, is making that choice and living it completely. Do I live enslaved or choose God's gift of freedom through Jesus?
Today's reading from the book Nehemiah includes a familiar blessing particularly appropriate on this New Year's Day:
"The Lord bless you and keep you!
The Lord let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!" (Num 6:24-26).
St Paul, in the reading from Galatians, speaks of the 'fullness of time' and the fundamental change for humanity with the birth of Jesus through the Blessed Virgin. No longer enslaved by the law, we now live as children of the Father. This is God's supreme gift to humanity—the choice to live in freedom. Choosing to live in the freedom of the Spirit demonstrates our acceptance of God's gift. Choosing to live in the freedom of the Spirit brings to us the fullness of the blessing we read in Nehemiah.
We have never had to accept living our lives based strictly on the 'law' or been compelled to demonstrate strict adherence to rules and regulations. We live in the time of the Spirit, a time of the real presence of Jesus, a time of our inclusion as children of God through Christ. The 'fullness of time' is now. On this first day of the New Year, may we open ourselves to the generosity of the Father and allow Jesus, the Word made Flesh, to flourish as the ultimate reality in our lives and all the world. May we choose freedom.
--Gail Lyman