question of the day

As we turn toward the weekend getting ready for friday, saturday, sunday, Happy days...The Church invites us to reflect on Mary, the mother of God, as we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Basilica of Mary Maggiore in Rome.

It is the oldest Church dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, at least in the west. It was constructed shortly after the Council of Ephesus (431)in which the church agreed that Mary is "theotokos" that is the mother of God. Thus solidifying her important role in salvation history.

The Basilica is a bastion of peace and beauty, having had the opportunity several times to be there in person. Outside of St. Peter's Basilica, it is the Basilica that is the warmest and most peaceful. Though, a basilica dedicated to our mother could be nothing else.

In the Basilica outside of various works of art that are priceless, resides a relic of the Holy crib, the manger upon which Jesus laid in swaddling clothes. The crib is taken out at Christmas time for veneration and reflection.

And all of this began with the simple request of the angel Gabriel to Mary and to this request we remember the words, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to they word."

Certainly words worth recalling as we move toward the weekend. These words just might keep us from making foolish choices..."be it done to me according to thy word."

Then we look to the gospel of today. We hear that question of all questions posed to the apostles from the lips of Jesus himself.

Of the many questions that will fill our lives today and be carried throughout our lives on earth, this is the one question that will and should determine where we go from here...

"Who do you say that I am?"

This is the question that makes all questions seem unimportant and at the same time have meaning. Only in this question does our life begin to take shape.


"Who do you say that I am?"

Peter answered the question for all of us..."you are Christ the son of the living God."

But at some point we must answer the question for ourselves, daily, weekly, monthly, yearly. At each moment of our life, by the choices we make the answer is proclaimed.

"Who do you say that I am?"

IF the church is correct in proclaiming Mary as "theotokos", mother of God, and we know the church is endowed with the gift of the Holy Spirit and cannot error in faith or morals then we should let her leads us to the answer we long for, for Mama won't lead us astray. IF she is mother of God then her son surely must be the son of the living God.

"You are the Christ, son of the living God."

Lead on, mama, lead on.