What was from the beginning was heard, seen and touched. It concerns the revelation of eternal life made visible. St. John the Apostle was among those to behold it. He proclaims it in the first chapter of his First Epistle, almost summarizing the Prologue to his Gospel account. In reading his words slowly, prayerfully, I was struck by them again, this time pondering them as spoken by one who experienced the mystery firsthand before anyone else.
The Son of God, hidden in the bosom, in the heart, or chamber of the Father, reveals himself.
“[As from] a tent for the sun, [he] comes forth like a bridegroom leaving his chamber…”
– Psalm 19
He proceeds (is eternally generated) from him, begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father.
Light from light, true God from true God, the eternal life that was with the Father shone brightly.
He is the Word through whom all things were created, he came into his own creation.
The Word of God who was from the beginning became man and dwelt among us. He came to his own and was rejected by his own; but he was welcomed and received by his mother. (John 1)
The Blessed Virgin Mary heard the first cries of the Eternal Word.
She was the first to see him with her eyes. She looked upon him.
She touched him with her hands and Wrapped him with swaddling clothes.
She saw the eternal life that was with the Father, the invisible God made visible.
She was the closest to him and therefore brings us the closest to him. She testifies to him, she’s not the light but she testifies to the light that has come into the world. Through her who beheld his glory first, we behold his glory now. With Mary we behold him (and hope to behold him face-to-face for all eternity).
Everything she is is ordered to the revelation and proclamation of God’s saving plan which culminates in no less than fellowship with the Triune God, the love of the Father poured out in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit that causes us to participate in the eternal life that was from the beginning. Mary’s joy is complete when she sees her children brought into union with God.
The first to accept and receive him is the one who brought him into the world that he might be accepted and received. And by receiving him we have power to become children of God.
The Mother of God is also the mother of all those who have God’s life dwelling within them. God became man that man, through participation in him as by gift, man might become god. Mary therefore is our mother. That is very much a part of the reason why the Divine Maternity is celebrated during the Christmas season, on the octave day of Christmas.
So much more could be said but the above is a basis for going even deeper into meditating the mystery of the Incarnation. Mary, mother of God and our mother, may we gaze upon the face of Jesus with the wonder and amazement of your eyes, may we hear him with the obedient attentiveness of your years, may we touch him in the reception of Holy Communion and embrace him with the love of your heart. Would that our joy be complete! Amen!