DAILY- HOMILY

January 1, 2009
Solemnity, Mary Mother of God

Nm 6:22-27
The LORD said to Moses:
"Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them:
This is how you shall bless the Israelites.
Say to them:
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!
So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites,
and I will bless them."

Gal 4:4-7
Brothers and sisters:
When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son,
born of a woman, born under the law,
to ransom those under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as sons.
As proof that you are sons,
God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying out, "Abba, Father!"
So you are no longer a slave but a son,
and if a son then also an heir, through God.

Lk 2:16-21
The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem
and found Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known the message
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
just as it had been told to them.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision,
he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.

REFLECTION
We open the New Year with this celebration of Mary, Mother of God.
When we address Mary as Mother of God, we acknowledge that she
conceived and gave birth to the Son of God in his human nature.

The source of Mary's greatness is her relationship to Jesus as his
Mother. Everything she has is hers because of Jesus. Mary does not
stand alone. She is with Jesus, always with Jesus, always for Jesus.
Even later, when she was no longer physically with him, she remained
with him by following his example of complete obedience to the Father
and joining him in the fulfillment of that will.

In today's Gospel, the shepherds find Mary with Jesus and she is
described as keeping "all these things, reflecting on them in her
heart." In these details we see what we have to imitate in Mary if we
are to be people of peace. To be with Jesus, to be for Jesus, such was
the life of Mary. In this she is our model to be imitated.

This is the Marian dimension of our lives: to be with Jesus in
everything like Mary. To be with Jesus in our thoughts, having the
mind of Jesus; to be with our affections, loving with the heart of
Jesus; to be with Jesus in our desires, seeking first the kingdom of
God and his righteousness; to be with Jesus in life and in death,
sharing with him like Mary the mystery of Christmas; but also sharing
with him the paschal mystery. Like Mary, we must learn to ponder
things in our hearts. We have to reflect on God's loving plan for us
and whether our lives are going God's way.

Mary had a heart. When we use the logic of the heart, we reach out to
others. The mind is cold and deliberate. The heart is warm and giving.
Today, let us ask not what we can get, rather, what we can give. Let
us imitate Mary and learn to ponder these things in our hearts.

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Lisa
- Graham
- Sophia Gonzalez
… In Thanksgiving for all the blessings received: Ronnie Delgado
… for the safe trip of: Jonalyn Laranang
… for the personal intentions of Pauline
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Aurora Mallillin
- Birthday: Grace Tan Chua
- Thanksgiving: Castillo Family
- Prayer Intention: Baboorankey
… for the healing and peace of all families

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers
and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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