Defender of the divine motherhood of Mary

  Today, June 27, as our Church celebrates the Memorial of Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor, we are invited to reflect on a passage from the book of Sirach (39: 4-10), entitled "The wisdom of a man who is learned in the Scriptures". Our treasure, which follows, is from a letter by Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop. Cyril of Alexandria (c. 376–444) was the Patriarch of Alexandria in Egypt and one of the greatest theologians of the early Church. He lived during a time of intense debate about the identity of Jesus Christ and devoted his ministry to defending the truth that Jesus is one divine Person who is fully God and fully man. Because of the depth and lasting influence of his teaching, he was declared a Doctor of the Church. Cyril is best known for defending both the unity of Christ's person and Mary's title as Mother of God. He also wrote influential commentaries on Scripture, especially the Gospels, emphasizing that the Word of God became flesh to save humanity and unite us with God. His writings highlight the importance of the Incarnation and the Eucharist, teaching that through Christ we are brought into communion with God's own life. Our "treasure" today is from "Defender of the Divine Motherhood of the Virgin Mary," a letter by Cyril of Alexandria in which Cyril teaches that Jesus Christ is one divine Person, fully God and fully man, and therefore the Blessed Virgin Mary is rightly called the Mother of God (Theotokos). Cyril explains that Mary did not give birth merely to the human nature of Jesus but to the one Person of the eternal Son of God, who truly became man through the Incarnation. Calling Mary the Mother of God safeguards the truth about who Christ is. The main takeaway is that the title "Mother of God" is fundamentally a teaching about Christ, not simply about Mary. By defending Mary's divine motherhood, Cyril was defending the central mystery of the Christian faith: that in Jesus, God truly became man without ceasing to be God. This truth assures us that the One who died and rose for our salvation is the very Son of God, making our redemption complete. Mary's title as Mother of God therefore proclaims both the reality of the Incarnation and God's immeasurable love in becoming one of us to save us. The principal message from Sirach in our first reading is that true wisdom comes from prayerfully studying God's word, seeking His will, and putting His teachings into practice. The wise person does more than acquire knowledge; he meditates on the Scriptures, prays for understanding, and allows God's wisdom to shape his life. As a result, he speaks with insight, lives virtuously, and becomes a source of guidance and blessing for others. The main takeaway is that Scripture is meant to transform us, not merely inform us. Those who humbly seek God's wisdom through prayer and reflection grow in holiness and bear lasting fruit in their lives and ministry. Their wisdom is recognized not simply by what they know, but by how faithfully they live and how they lead others closer to God.