Wh Does Mary Matter?

From the Catholic Liturgy for the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, January 1, 2017. Gal. 4:4-7; Lk. 2:16-21.  Today is Mother’s Day in the liturgical calendar of the Roman Catholic Church. We call name it after Mary Mother of God, the greatest mother, greatest woman, to have ever lived.  Calling her ‘Mother of God’ does not mean she is greater than God, but it points to the truth that her Son is indeed fully God, the Second Person of the Trinity, come to earth and made flesh through her by the power of the Holy Spirit. Mary is not a second-rate player in the story of Christ.  She is the leading lady and our salvation was made possible because she dais ‘yes’ to God’s plan for the rescuing of the human race. Mary is not divine. Mary is not the Source of grace. Mary is not our Savior. BUT without her intimate generous love for and cooperation with God we would still be in our sinful condition awaiting God’s liberation. So we rejoice in Mary as Mother in the family of God which is the Church. We ask her to mother us, to birth Christ in us spiritually, so that we may be his witnesses and spread the Gospel and Kingdom of God upon earth. Hail full of grace! The Lord is with thee! Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb!