Mother of God, the highest of all titles by which Our Lady has been crowned, comes to us from Ephesus 1380 years ago in the year 431 AD. To teach once and for all that Jesus was both human and divine, the First Council of Ephesus attended by the Oriental Orthodox, the Eastern Orthodox, the Roman Catholics, and a number of other Western Christian groups and held at the Church of Mary, proclaimed Mary Theotokos, Mother of God.
It seems providential that we have been given this understanding and title for Mary, Mother of God, from Ephesus. Ephesus is a continual source of grace for the Church. It was one of the first Seven Churches established in Christendom and, located in the Diocese of Izmir, is the sole remaining of those first Seven Churches. Ephesus is where St. John brought Mary, Mother of God, and where he built her a little safe haven, a home for her final years after fleeing the persecution in Jerusalem. Jesus himself had given the care of His Mother to John. Of all his God given tasks, John had Mary's peace and safety as most dear.
Sister Marie, too, has one most dear God given task among the many He asks of her. Izmir, a short distance from Ephesus, is where Sister Marie is placed by God and where she is able to accomplish this task: to find the little House of Mary. Sister Marie's generosity finalizes the acquisition and now the Church, and the people of the whole world, have this holy ground, Mary's House, which remains a haven of peace and safety...but now not only for Mary but for all Children of Mary.
Let us pray together on this Feast Day of Mary, Mother of God, in thanksgiving to God for His Mother who He selflessly gave, from the Cross, to be our Mother, and for the tiny but grace-filled treasure of Mary's House in Ephesus, given to us through the "fiat" and generosity of Sister Marie, where people of all faiths gather to honor her. Our hope for peace is in that the Mother of God is also our Mother by grace; she will unite the family of God. As Sister Marie is raised for all the world to know and love, she will point us to Mary's House, the safe haven of peace where we find the Mother of God.
Thank you Jesus, for Your Mother, our Mother.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us now and at the hour of our death.
Sister Marie, Guiding Star, in this New year of 2011 show us the way to Jesus through Mary.
Happy and Blessed New Year to all.
Happy and Blessed New Year to all.
