Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (Jan. 1): Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: The best way to begin a New Year

Readings: Num 6:22-27; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21

Dearest brothers and sisters, today is a very important and special day in the life of every one of us. It is the beginning of a new year, a day of a new beginning. More significantly, it is the beginning of a new month. It is indeed a day of new beginnings. It is a day that presents us with a great opportunity to look at the last year and thank God for the graces of entering another year.

 

Last year was started by many people, but not all those who began it crossed over to this New Year. Since the grace of God has helped us to enter a new year, let us thank God for all his love, blessings, protection, mercies, and favors for the last year and for being in another new year.

 

But what is the best way to begin a new year? The Church in her wisdom has shown us the best way to begin this New Year; it is with the blessings of God. Dearest friends, without the blessings of God, we cannot do anything. Having seen how important his blessings were for the Israelites to survive in the desert, God, in the first reading of today, directed Moses to tell Aaron to bless the house of Israel with His name. He said, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift his countenance upon you and give you peace.’ So, they will call my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” It is the blessings of God that will guide and lead us this New Year. Indeed, we need these blessings.

 

Therefore, friends, from the altar of the Eucharistic sacrifice, through the instrumentality of the priests, God sends his blessings of love, peace, healing, favour, prosperity, grace, safety in travels, protections, and many more blessings into your life and into your families today. These blessings are very important for all of us to survive the storms of the New Year. We need them in order to succeed in our plans for the year. Last year, many storms threatened our lives, especially the storms of economic hardship, but the blessings, graces, and protection of God kept us going.

 

The Church also calls us to rely on the graces and protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary this year. Today is the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. The Church dedicates the first day of the New Year to this woman whose intercession is necessary for our sustenance in difficult moments of life. In Mary, we have a mother who loves us and cares about our needs. She is a mother who stands before her son, interceding for us every day. This is the reason why the Church has dedicated every first of January – the beginning of the New Year – to her. Let us embrace her; let us also commit our plans and projects for the New Year under her protection and guidance. Let us call on her through the rosary every day of this year.

 

Dear friends, every New Year is a call for a new beginning, a new life, and a new vision. The Church invites us today to make new resolutions to abandon old ways of sin and embrace a new life. So, today gives us the opportunity to reflect on how we lived the last year, resolve to change whatever was not good about it, and march ahead into this new year with new life and new resolutions. This resolution to live a good life is very important because of the blessings God is giving us today. If we want to enjoy the beautiful blessings from God this New Year, we have to receive these blessings with new life. In the gospel of Mark 2:22, Christ told us that we cannot put new wine in old wineskins. If we do put our new wines in old wineskins, both the wine and the wineskins will be lost. In the same way, if we carry these new blessings of the New Year in an old life of sin, they will not be effective. So, let us say no to the old life of envy, anger, pride, arrogance, greed, wickedness, immorality, and other vices this year. Let us instead say yes to love, peace, holy life, harmony, tolerance, unity, forgiveness, and many other virtues. This way, the blessings of the New Year will not be lost; they will, rather, bear abundant fruits in us.

 

Happy New Year.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD (NEW YEAR): HOMILY BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: NEW YEAR, NEW VISION: COME AND SEE

(Luke 2:16-21)

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.

They saw a woman who had 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.

The shepherds saw Joseph. Joseph is a good helper, Joseph is a godsent. 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.

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 to be a year of blessings. People will gather to see the glorious manifestations of God in your life.

Let's journey along in hope, faith, and charity.

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)

Happy New Year to you, my beloved in the Lord

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh