Gospel Reflection for January 1st 2020 Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God & World Day of Peace
World Day of Peace
Happy New Year! More than likely there were plenty of parties and celebrations on New Year’s Eve as the old year ended and the new one was ushered in. As we continue the sacred season of Christmas, today we mark and celebrate this important day in the company and presence of our Lady, the Mother of God. Mary is not only central to Advent and Christmas; she is central to God’s plan of salvation. From the moment of her conception, which we celebrated on the 8th of December, through her being called personally by God to be the Mother of Jesus and her final vigil at the foot of the cross, Mary is offered to us as the prime example of what it is to follow Jesus as his disciple.
In reality, the gospels do not actually give us a lot of details about the life of Mary. All we have are small but very significant accounts of the important things that happened for and to her. The gospel for today’s wonderful feast is one of those gospels. The gospel for Christmas told us that shepherds made their way to the manger to see this new born child and his parents. The gospel today tells us that they hurried away from the manger sharing with everyone all that they had seen. It must have been an experience that was full of noise, excitement and perhaps even some confusion. But somehow, with all that what was going on around her Mary treasured all these things in her heart. Wisely, Mary did not dismiss, deny or ignore anything that happened to or for her. All that was taking place was part of God’s plan for her and for the whole human race. Through the grace and gift of faith, Mary cooperated fully with what God asked of her; not just at her Annunciation, but each and every day of her life as she followed Jesus. This is Mary’s greatness and her example that we are asked to follow in our own daily lives. Difficult though it can be sometimes to believe or accept, God does have a plan for each us, no matter what happens to us. Can we follow the example of Mary; can we put our faith, hope and trust in God? Can we ponder and treasure in our hearts all that happens to us?
Today is also World Day of Peace. A title often given to Mary, is ‘Mary, Queen of Peace. We know that from watching the news and reading our newspapers, that sadly there are many people and countries that are suffering because of violence and random acts of terrorism. Sadly some of these acts of violence take place in our own communities and in our own streets. When these acts of violence happen the lives of many families are shattered We pray for all victims of violence, whether at home or abroad and those who carry out these terrible deeds. Perhaps a New Year resolution we can make today is that we will do our very best to be people of peace; starting in our own homes and families. As we begin this New Year, may Mary, Queen of Peace, guide, lead and protect us, now and always.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
-Br Michael Moore OMI
Gospel for January 1st the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God : Matthew 2:13-15; 19-23 ©
Dangers faced by the Holy Family before they settled in Nazareth
Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”
Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”
When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazorean.”
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