MARY, MOTHER OF GOD

Happy New Year 2024!  May the Lord bless you in the new year ahead.  Today is also the Octave Day of Christmas & the Church celebrates the Liturgy today of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.  We honour Mary & we seek her prayers & intercessions for ourselves, our family & loved ones. 

Today’s First Reading taken from Numbers 6:22-27 speaks of the Lord blessing the people of Israel.  It goes:

“May the Lord bless you and keep you.

May the Lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you peace.”

 The fullness of God’s blessings was given to us when Mary conceived & gave birth to Jesus, the Son of God, who died on the cross to redeem & save us. (see 2nd Reading Galatians 4:4-7)

 What a wonderful gift of grace we have received – Jesus, the Prince of Peace.  We who believe in Jesus & profess that He is Lord receive His gift of salvation, of new life, of love, of joy and peace.  This peace of Christ gives us, however, is not some sentimental, feel-good & easily obtained, “cheap” peace.  It is given at a huge price, the sacrifice of Jesus – Christ reconciled all creation & all things by making peace through the blood of His cross (cf Colossian 1:20).

 On this New Year’s Day, then, grateful for Jesus’ love for us by dying to save us, let us open our hearts to the Peace of Christ – a peace that the world cannot give, that only Jesus can give to us (cf John 14:27).  And receiving this peace from Jesus, let us move forward in the new year to be channels of God’s precious gift of peace to our family, friends and loved ones.

Here’s a wonderful hymn to sing to our Blessed Mother, as we dedicate our lives & our families to her maternal care & protection this year 2024. 

 Ave Maria (youtube.com)

Have a Happy & Peace-Filled New Year!