DAILY- HOMILY

January 1, 2017 – SUNDAY, Octave of Christmas

MARY, MOTHER OF GOD 

Solemnity, White, Holy Day of Obligation 

New Year's Day

Nm 6:22-27 / Gal 4:4-7 / Lk 2:16-21

     The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, celebrates the mystery of Mary being the Mother of Jesus Christ, true God and true man. Defined at the Council of Ephesus in 431, her divine motherhood is the reason for her Immaculate Conception and Assumption into heaven.

1ST READING:     Nm 6:22-27

     Then Yahweh 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 Yahweh bless you and keep you! May Yahweh let his face shine on you and be gracious to you! May Yahweh 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."

FROM THE 2ND READING:     Gal 4:4-6

     But when the fullness of time came, God sent his Son. He came born of a woman and subject to the Law, in order to redeem the subjects of the Law, that we may be given our full rights of sons and daughters of God. And because you are sons, God has sent into your hearts the Spirit of his Son which cries out: "Abba! That is, Father."

GOSPEL READING:     Lk 2:16-21

     So they came hurriedly and found Mary and Joseph, with the baby lying in the manger. On seeing this 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 messages and continually pondered over them.

     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.

REFLECTION

     The beginning of the year is usually the time we look with gratitude for all the blessings the Lord had given us in the past year. And we ask him to bless the New Year. In 1979 archeologists digging near Jerusalem stumbled upon an ancient cave filled with jars, oil lamps and jewelry. The cave dated 600 years before the birth of Christ.

     A piece of jewelry had a tiny silver scroll which contained the beautiful blessing of today's first reading:

     The Lord bless 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!

     Joseph and Mary must have used these very same words to bless their Child Jesus as they laid him in his manger-crib.

     As we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, whom the angel called "blessed" among women, we can consider how the Scriptures used "blessings."

     First, God blessed people: he blessed Adam and Eve, "Be fruitful and multiply." He gave them the power to continue the human race.

     Second, people blessed God: St. Paul wrote to the Christians at Ephesus, "Blessed be the God who has blessed us. " People thanked God for his undeserved blessings.

   Third, people blessed other people: Isaac blessed his son to ask God to confer something special on him. When we bless one another we share in the life-giving power of God and his responsibility to care for all life.

     Fourth, people blessed things: Jesus blessed bread and wine. People ask to have things blessed. We give thanks for blessings received.

     This leads us to two practical conclusions. First, as we close out the old year, we should thank God for blessing us during the past year. And second, besides counting our blessings from God during the year, we should consider sharing some of our blessings with others during the coming year. And all this we do through the intercession of Mary, Mother of God and our Mother.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     AMY AGUILAR CHEANG

     BELEN ABUEL SIM EDREACHOA

     JANWEE D. ALAPAR 

PRAYER INTENTION

     CHOA TIER SENG

     WONGCHUKING FAMILY (SAFE TRAVELS)

THANKSGIVING

     CASTILLO FAMILY

     GLENNWOOD COMM'L INC & EGGHEAD SYSTEM & NETWORK, INC

IN MEMORIAM (†)

     JOSEPH LIM SINCHE

     LINDA TIU

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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