Mary, Mother of God

Num. 6:22-27, Gal. 4:4-7, Lk. 2:16-21. Today is a great day of joy all over the world: a new year has just begun with the hope of new relationships of peace, new endeavours to make life better for the human family and resolutions to start afresh in many areas of our individual lives. We also reflect on the circumcision of Jesus which took place on the eighth day after His birth (Lk. 2:21). We celebrate today "Mary, Mother of God" and "World Day of Peace". We pray for peace throughout the world especially in the war affected areas. We share the joy of this day with God the Father of mercies who always extends His love and care to us so that we can return to Him and start over afresh.

Now let us reflect on all that we want to start afresh in the coming year. Let us ask the Father to help us overcome the old ways of sin and death and give us His help in our new endeavours. Today is a new start for so many things: it is the beginning of a new time, it offers us new opportunities, it is a time of new resolution, it is a moment to let go of the past. This is the opportune time to be able to start all over, to let by-gones be by-gones. We celebrate Christ who offers us His forgiveness, with the possibility of a new start and a rebirth. This is why the basic Christian ritual is baptism: the past is over, life begins afresh. This is the same renewal that lies at the heart of Christian forgiveness and the Sacrament of Reconciliation: the past is dead, we can begin anew.

May the Lord break the walls of hatred and discord in our world as we begin a new year! Amen!! Good morning and Have a Grace Filled Year!!!