Numbers 6:22-27; Ps 67(66):2-3. 5. 6, 8; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21
At the Council of Ephesus Nestorius wanted Mary to be called ‘Christotokos’ or ‘Christ-bearer’, but the Council insisted that the man Jesus, who was fully God, derived his whole being from Mary: she was ‘Theotokos’, ‘God-bearer’ (HW - Universalis)
This is a very big difference. Christ was, and is, fully human. He had DNA from Mary, he would have learned to speak from her and Joseph, he grew up infected by their personalities, and under their influence he learned how to read the scriptures, ponder on them and understand that they applied to him.
But Mary is Theotokos - 'God Bearer' as Jesus was, and is, fully divine. Today we celebrate that aspect - that Mary was and is the Mother of God. One might be forgiven therefore to expect to have the three kings visit to the cradle in Bethlehem as todays reading, as surely only the best of us could represent us at His birth? But no - today we see the shepherds - almost the complete social opposites by comparison - smelly, scruffy, young, perhaps thuggish. 'Hoodies' in today's society would represent the human race to great our Lord, God of all time and all space, into our world, not Kings, Politicians, or Peers of the Realm.
Why? What is God telling you about how to worship him when you visit the Crib this Christmas tide?