THE NEW DAWN: MARY, MOTHER OF GOD
(Luke 2:16-21)
Today is the First day of
January, a new year begins today. A new day starts today, a new month starts
this day, the brand-new week has begun. It is a Thanksgiving Day for the year
that has come to an end for this one to begin.
The octave of Christmas ends
today. In a very special way Mary is celebrated as the Mother of God. The story
of nativity of the Lord which cannot be told without Mary is refreshed once
again. The Gospel of today takes us to Bethlehem with the Shepherds who were
privileged to receive in their dark night the message and good news of the newborn
king.
The birth of Jesus brought about
a new era, a new order, a new reign, a new joy, a new dawn.
Let's go with the shepherds to
see what the new dawn has in stall for us.
What the shepherds saw:
MARY, THE MOTHER
They found an ordinary woman God
chose to make His mother. They may have wondered who the mother of God will be.
Is it really possible that God will be carried by a mere woman? No woman
touched the ark of the covenant, how come a woman became the new ark of the new
covenant? What an amazing thing! What a
mystery! This is not reincarnation, where people believe that a man can come
back to his son as a baby. This is incarnation where for the first time God
chose to be born as a man by woman. Mary became a God bearer, a grace carrier,
and a vessel for disseminating the word of God, the blessings from above and
the fulfilment of God's will. Are we God bearers or evil bearers? May we bear
the heavenly blessings of joy, happiness, peace, love and favours this new year
and put away every dark element.
WITH JOSEPH
The shepherds did not find Mary
alone. Mary was with Joseph. Mary is not performing the role of being the
mother of God alone. The task of showing concern about things of God, of
overseeing the realization and perfection of the will of God as against that of
the devil, of evil men and of the world is a responsibility we all have to take
active part in. Like Joseph, we should make the work of bearing God easier for
all the bearers of God. We should encourage all those who bear the image of God
with them. We should respect those who make sincere effort to see that God
reigns. We should take our place close to God, lubricating our relationship
with Him. We should see to it that the God who comes into us matures to produce
virtuous fruits.
MOTHER OF GOD VS MURDERERS OF
GOD
Let us endeavour to ensure that
God lives in us, let us try our hardest effort to see to the realization of the
divine will for us. Let us go back to the drawing board to know if or not we
are on the right lane where God has destined us to be. Let us give birth to
godliness, let us nourish goodness, let us create a conducive atmosphere for
God to live with us.
Let us not kill God, let us not
abort God, let us not put God aside, even as we are starting this new year. Let
us make sure we begin with God. Let the reckless lifestyles of previous years
be destroyed. Let insecurity of life and property be a thing or the past. Let
us keep the commandments of God. Let us make news positively and not
negatively. Let the shepherds gather to give thanks and praise to God for what
He has done for us and for what we have allowed God do through us. Let them not
gather because of our killing of God, because of our kidnapping of God, because
of our silencing of God, because of persecutions and oppositions to the word of
God flowing from us.
May we not be murderers of God neither
in ourselves nor in others.
LET US PRAY
Oh God bless and keep us Amen.
May Your face shine upon us, be gracious to us. Amen. Lift your countenance
upon us and give us your peace. Amen. May we begin this year with you our God,
and like your mother bear your blessing to all people in the world. May your
family on earth find reasons to rejoice again after many past years, days and
months of sorrows and pain. Give us renewed joy in Christ who lives and reigns
for ever and ever. Amen
Mary Mother of God, intercede for
us for the release of Bishop Moses Chikwe
Happy New Year.
Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh
#2021 #NewYear #HappyNewYear #MaryMotherOfGod
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