Solemnity of Mary, Holy Mother of God, is meant to commemorate the part played by Mary in this mystery of salvation.

The Blessed Virgin Mary is honored as the Mother of God because she con ceived and gave birth to Christ,

who is the incarnation of God the Son, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity.

As we enter the new year, let us ask Mary, Mother of God:

Holy Mary, Mother of God, through the gift of Jesus to bless us.

 

Holy Day of Obligation

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Numbers 6:22-27

Then the Lord spoke to Moses saying,

"Speak to Aaron and his sons and say to them:

This is how you shall bless the people of Israel; you shall say:

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 look kindly on you, and give you his peace! In that way shall they put my name on the people of Israel and I will bless them."

 

Ps 67:2-3,5,6,8 (2a) May God bless us in his mercy

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Galatians 4:4-7

But when the fullness of time came, God sent his Son.

He came, born of woman, and subject to the law, in order to redeem the subjects of the law,

that we might receive adoption, as children of God.

 

And because you are children, God has sent into your hearts the spirit of his Son,

who cries out: Abba! That is, Father! You, yourself, are no longer a slave,

but a son or daughter, and yours is the inheritance, by God's grace.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Luke 2:16-21

So they came hurriedly, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the feeding trough.

On seeing him, they related what they had been told about the child; and all were astonished on hearing the shepherds.

 

As for Mary, she treasured all these words, and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds then returned,

giving glory and praise to God for all they had heard and seen, just as the angels had told them.

 

On the eighth day, the circumcision of the baby had to be performed; he was named Jesus,

the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"Life is a journey of growth in love and hope."

New Year is like the summit of a mountain from which we can survey the past and look to the future.

It's an opportunity to reflect on many things: relationships with family and friends; our work, our world;

on what was achieved and what was left undone. But our Christian faith places the turn of the year

into the much bigger context of God's Providence. Life is not simply an endless cycle of passing months,

but a journey of growth in love and hope. Our journey through life is continually sustained by God.

 

Our task is to grow in our awareness of God's presence, by pondering prayerfully, like Mary, so that we are transformed.

"May the Lord let his face shine on you and give you his peace."

At the start of the year, we ask for God's blessing; that his glorious face will shine upon us.

 

But that glory of God has the power to touch all those around us, too,

if we let that glory radiate from us as his instruments of love and peace.

May Mary the Mother of God walk with us on our journey and deepen our hope and trust in God.