Virgin and Child mosaic, 9th century, Hagia Sophia
(About this Image)
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
(Luke 2:19)
Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the Second Reading
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
Galatians 4:4–7
January 1, 2023
Today, we celebrate the feast of Mary, the Mother of God with the second reading from Paul’s letter to the Galatians. It includes the phrase “born of a woman” but this is not the primary reason for choosing this passage. As we will discover that this entire chapter from Galatians is best understood with Mary, even more than Paul, as our model.
We will need provide only a brief background. Galatia is not a city but an area in Asia Minor (near Ankura in modern Turkey). Paul had lived there and was treated quite well. He taught the people and thought they were well prepared when he left. He discovered however afterwards that other missionaries, perhaps claiming to have been sent by the apostles in Jerusalem, had come to Galatia and told the people that Paul’s teaching was incomplete because he did not require circumcision and other signs of being fully Jewish. Paul feels betrayed and hurt for himself but more concerned for the salvation of his flock and in this letter blasts his opponents personally and demolishes their arguments intellectually.
Continue reading “Mary, Mother of God – Embracing the Freedom Given by Her Son”