Mary Mother of God. Year A - Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Homily Mary Mother of God. Year A - Wednesday, January 1, 2020

First Reading: Numbers 6:22-27

Psalm: Ps 66:2-3. 5. 6. 8. "May God bless us in his mercy."

Second Reading: Galatians 4:4-7

Gospel Acclamation: Hebrews 1:1-2. Alleluia, alleluia! In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; now he speaks to us through his Son. Alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 2:16-21

Image Credit: ID: 628121756. Shutterstock licensed - Blessed Virgin Mary with baby Jesus. Artistic abstract modern colourful design. Digital illustration made without a reference image. By Thoom.
++++Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Mary Mother of God. Year A - Wednesday, January 1, 2020 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-ep-197-mary-the-mother-of-god-2020/s-3R4Cm  (EPISODE: 197)

 +++++
A new calendar year has begun.  2020 has arrived.  and what better start than to commend this brand new year to the intercession,  protection and guidance of Mary the Mother of God.  Mary,  the first and most perfect disciple of Christ.  May God bless this new year with his grace and love.  

____ 

Someone asked me the other day,  what do you think will happen to you this year.  I replied, "I don't know.  I don't have 'twenty-twenty' vision. !!! 😊

But, I do know this.  God is with us.   and this new calendar year,  2020, upon us. May God bless us all with a happy, healthy and grace-filled year.

It is a time for new starts and looking forward to how we can be the best disciples of the gospel that we can be. Always with the help of God's love. 

2020 is not just another year…..   rather, it is another year "for" !!!   (For being humble servants in God's Kingdom).  It is quite accurate to say that what is about to begin, in the old style of wording,  is truly the Year of Our Lord, 2020

What better way of celebrating the beginning of a new calendar year than by dedicating it to the care and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, and the first and most perfect disciple. 

Mary the Mother of God is a wonderful inspiration for us.           

Mary's prayers and example assist us as we dedicate ourselves to  help (in any ways that God asks of us),  to establish God's kingdom in the places we live and work and socialise.

We have so much for which to be grateful: All the people and events for which we are truly and deeply thankful; including our families, our friends, our brother and sister parishioners, the wider community, our nation: which is blessed with so many natural gifts and the gift of relative peace and freedom, and we are truly grateful for the gift of our Church too; the gift of our faith, which makes us beloved daughters and sons of God.  This gift allows us to see all the people around us and throughout the whole world,  especially those most desperate and needy, as our brothers and sisters in the one family of God. 

It is so important to have a grateful, remembering heart. The Blessed Virgin Mary always had a remembering heart, even when, (and especially when), things were going terribly wrong and did not make the slightest sense. Mary the mother of God pondered, prayed, praised, thanked and cherished and trusted in God.

May God transform all our efforts for the good, for God's own good purposes and may our cooperation in Gods work this year bear abundant fruit for God's Kingdom.     

 We think of our loved ones, friends and fellow parishioners who have passed away this last year past, and pray for all our departed loved ones, as we continue to commend them to the ongoing and eternal care of God. We trust that they are now enjoying the peace and reward of God's eternal kingdom,  where one day we will all be reunited.  

And we offer up prayers for all our loved ones, friends, colleagues and parishioners, that God may hold them in the palm of his hand this coming year.

It is a good thing for us to make new year's resolutions, knowing that only with God's grace and guidance can these resolutions bear much fruit…

At the start of 2020, we pray this year will be filled with grace and happiness and peace. And, when we speak of a happy new year, we know that God's idea of happiness is a fresh and challenging one. 

"Look at Mary and Joseph kneeling before the manger. They must have been physically and emotionally exhausted. They have travelled 157 kilometres (three days walk back then), from Nazareth to Bethlehem on foot or on the jolting back of a donkey. They must be extremely hungry. They have not had a real meal since they left Nazareth some three days ago. They must be cold in this damp cave, in the midst of winter. It must have been terribly distressing for them to find no room, even among their relatives in their ancestral home or at the Village Inn.

Yet in the midst of all of this, Mary and Joseph are truly the happiest people ever to walk the face of this earth. Here in Bethlehem, they are teaching us the amazing paradox that it is only when we surrender ourselves utterly in the love and service of Jesus, that we find true happiness and peace. A happiness that this world can never give and no one can take from us. A joy and peace that is not dependent on the smooth sailing of events and situations around us.  Peace and serenity in even the worst of situations. 

So on this first day of the New Year let us ask for the grace to know Jesus more intimately, love him more fully… and follow him more closely" ((quote from Fr Rodney Kissinger, S.J.)*

…..So that this may be a truly Happy New Year according to God's vision for the world.

May God bless us and keep us in faith, hope, love and health in this new year 2020 and beyond. May Mary, the beloved Mother of God, pray for us in good times and in times of trial, temptation and hardship, and keep us in her tender care  as we faithfully follow our beloved Lord into this new and exciting year of possibilities.

+++++

References:

Fr Paul W. Kelly

#Quote from Fr Rodney Kissinger, S.J.

Image Credit: ID: 628121756. Shutterstock licensed - Blessed Virgin Mary with baby Jesus. Artistic abstract modern colourful design. Digital illustration made without a reference image. By Thoom

+++

Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au

To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com

To listen to my weekly homily audio podcast, please click this link here.
NB - It is often a week or so Ahead: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/tracks

You are welcome to subscribe to Fr Paul's homily mail-out by sending an email to this address: paulkellyreflections+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Further information relating to the audio productions linked to this Blog:

"Faith, Hope and Love, A time of Christian worship and reflection" - Led by Rev Paul Kelly

Prayers and chants — Roman Missal, 3rd edition, © 2010, The International Commission on English in the liturgy. (ICEL)

Scriptures - New Revised Standard Version: © 1989, revised - 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA).

"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins Publishers. 

Prayers of the Faithful - from "Together we pray". by Robert Borg'. © 1993. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers.

{Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - by Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. Including The Gloria. Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org} 

"Today I Arise – Saint Patrick's Song" (To Patricia Joy Kelly), Composed by Paul W. Kelly. Arranged and Sung, with adjusted lyrics by Stefan Kelk.  2019. © 2019 Paul W. Kelly.

"Faith, Hope and Love" hymn - in memory of William John Kelly - Inspired by 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Music Paul W. Kelly. © 1996. Updated lyrics by Paul Kelly and Stefan Kelk, arranged and sung by Stefan Kelk. 2019.

Please visit homilycatholic.blogspot.com

Production - KER.            May God bless and keep you. 

Mary Mother of God. Year A
(Wednesday, January 1, 2020)

(EPISODE: 197)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
+++++++++++++
{{May God's Spirit of  Wisdom and Awe abide in you. }}

my brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves to?celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sins.
Lord Jesus, you are mighty God and Prince of Peace. Lord have mercy//  You are Son of God and the Son of Mary. Christ have mercy// You are Word made flesh, the splendour of the Father. Lord have mercy.
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
+++++++++++++++++++++

Memorial Acclamation

1. We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Virgin Mary I

EUCH PRAYER  II

Communion side. pwk: LH
++++
{May God's love, strength, mercy and kindness guide you all this year. }

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.