Hail, Holy Mother, who gave birth to the King, who rules heaven and earth for ever.

Happy New Year’s.  Hard to believe the year is over; the decade is over and we are now 20 years into the millennia.  Hope your holidays have been blessed.  Today we end the Octave of Christmas with the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.  I know the Catholic Church takes some grief for their perceived treatment of women, but name another faith who shows more reverence to the Blessed Mother of God and today we end the Octave (not the season) of Christmas honoring her “yes” to the will of God.  There is no better way to start the new year than by attending Mass and not only honoring Jesus in the sacrifice of the Mass, but also venerating His Mother Mary.  The readings today are worth repeating here in this post this morning.

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.”

R. (2a) May God bless us in his mercy.
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. May God bless us in his mercy.
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. May God bless us in his mercy.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. May God bless us in his mercy.

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.

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.

Do something great for our Lord today – honor His Mother whose yes to God brought salvation to all of us.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

Jesus, I trust in You.

He must increase; I must decrease.

But you man of God chose righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness.  Compete well for the faith.

Please keep in your prayers my Aunt and her family as she begins treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia.  She is a very strong woman and is ready to face this head-on but whatever thoughts and prayers you can offer in her name will only help her fight.

Please keep in your prayers a young couple who are expecting their first child in August.  Pray for a healthy pregnancy and that as they prepare for this life changing experience, they bless and praise God for this glorious gift.

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!