It is such an excellent arrangement in the liturgical calendar that we begin each year with this solemnity of Mary, Mother of God – Theotokos. This solemnity is the first and foremost dogma on Mary, upon which the others are based. Since Mary is the Mother of God because of the merit of Jesus Christ, we are drawn to reflect on our relationship with her and Jesus. How is that?
Mary is the Mother of God because she is the Mother of Jesus Christ, who is truly God and man. Also, she is the Mother of the Church founded by Jesus Christ. This is evident when Jesus handed the beloved disciple John to her while he, Jesus, was hanging on the cross (Jn.19:26-27). If Mary is the Mother of the Church and we are part of the Church, Mary is our Mother too. She is that worthy Mother who bears us into a new experience, helping us as we begin the course of each year and teaching us to learn constantly by listening to her Son Jesus as we go through the new year.
In today’s readings, we heard how God wants his people to be blessed, a psalm for God’s blessings, St Paul’s justification of our calling as adopted children of God because of the Spirit of Jesus in us; and in the gospel, we heard how the shepherds came to see the baby Jesus in the manger and gave their testimony from the angel’s message, which Mary treasured in her heart.
At every beginning of the year, we pray and bless each other. We begin the new year by invoking divine blessings on everyone. However, we are reminded that the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, with her son Jesus, is the quickest deliverer of God’s blessings for us. You are blessed in Jesus’ name. Amen.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!