Mass of the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God (NEW YEAR): Reflection by Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

Theme: NEW YEAR, NEW VISION: COME AND SEE

(Luke 2:16–21)

The Church today celebrates Mary, the Mother of God. Thus the shepherds set out to see the Special Child that warranted the angels to sing the Gloria. He is not just any other type of Child, but God that came as man. They went to see the mystery that made Mary the Theotokos. They went to see how possible it was for God to enter into time and space with man.

Today we have come to see just like the shepherds what the Lord has in stall for us. We have come to give thanks for last year. We have come to receive a new year. We have come to glorify God for His mercies and loving kindness. We have come to rededicate ourselves to God who made it possible that we see yet another brand new year. We have come to behold Mary the Mother of Jesus. She is the one through whom we were lunched into the new year of blessing after the tears of sin we were plunged into by Eve. Let us consider what the shepherds saw in Mary.

FAVOUR/JOY AFTER LABOUR

They saw a woman who has just given birth. The woman’s heart must be filled with thanksgiving. She has finally been delivered of the Baby after a long period of waiting, after so much labour pains, after a lot of uncertainties. She now smiles. This is a nice message of hope for us who persevered after the last year. We shall smile like the Mother smiles after delivery. We shall look back at the end of this coming year to thank God for the tasks we have begun that we faithfully completed. We are not going to be lazy again. We shall cooperate with God like Mary and not expecting manna from heaven. We shall open our hands to receive from God the talents we have to multiply by our efforts under the unction of His grace. Our labour shall not be in vain. We shall deliver as we pray to be delivered.

JOSEPH THE BEST COMPANION

The shepherds saw Joseph. Joseph is a good helper, Joseph is a God-sent. On your journey through this brand new year may you never lack reliable friends who will accompany you and be there for you to help you achieve your dreams.

You need to surround yourself with people who will help you achieve your set out goals, to live out your resolution. They should be people with good conscience, they should be people who are just like Joseph. They should be real, not fake. They should be people who fear God. They should not be people who are jealous of what God will do in your life. They should be those who tell you the truth. They should be people with good dreams. They should be as hardworking and talented like Joseph the carpenter, Father and protector of the Holy Family. They should not be idle gossipers, quick money and easy grace self-deceivers. They should be people with discipline.

ULTIMATE END

Our journey this New Year should be driven by God’s will and all that will make us live better here and behold Him face to face in heaven.

A new babe was seen lying in a manger. There is going to be joy, hope for growth, development, sucking from heavenly favours out of the labour of our hands, we shall receive loving care from God, we shall be carried on eagle’s wings. The Lord will not allow us to get lost. We shall be spared and preserved from the grip of Herods.

Lastly like the shepherds we shall praise and glorify God for the things He will make us see this New Year. And just like Jesus who at the end of the Gospel of today answered the name given to Him by God, may we answer the names given us by God without allowing any problem to define us nor allow any circumstance to change the plan of God for us.

Let us be men of vision. Let us dream big dreams now and let’s not stop at dreaming but work towards the actualization of our vision for this year. It will not be an empty dream this year. If you believe it will be that way for you. Come on, let us go into this year with optimism. It is going be a year of blessings. People will gather to see the glorious manifestations of God in your life for the way you contributed in midwifing the will of God for your life.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

BLESSINGS

May God bless and keep you this year Amen,

May He make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you Amen

May He lift His Holy countenance upon you and give you peace Amen

May the Lord bless this new day, new month and brand new year for you and your family in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

God bless your New YEAR (1st January, 2023).

Mary Mother of God, pray for us.

Happy New Year to you my beloved in the Lord

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh