Solemnity of Mary the Holy Mother of God. Year B –
Friday, January 1, 2021
(EPISODE: 270)
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!
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: 22831801. Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. By alphaspirit.it
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Please listen to my audio recordings of the readings, prayers and reflections for the Mary Mother of God. Year B - January 1, 2021 by clicking this link here: https://soundcloud.com/user-633212303/faith-hope-and-love-solemnity-of-mary-the-holy-mother-of-god-1st-january-2021-episode-270 (EPISODE: 270)
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A new calendar year has begun today. 2021 has arrived. And the most excellent way to begin is 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 compassionate hand, and his grace and love.
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In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
{{Kindness and grace to you all}}
On this special Solemnity of Mary the Holy Mother of God,, trusting in Gods faithfulness, mercy and love let us first call to mind our sins.
Lord Jesus, your beloved and Mother is thereby the Mother of God. Lord have mercy
Your beloved mother is Help of Christians. Christ have mercy
Your beloved Mother is the Queen of Heaven. Lord have mercy
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.
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Memorial Acclamation
2. When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.
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PREFACE: Blessed Virgin MARY I
Euch .Prayer: 2
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{Thanks everyone, and THROUGH God's grace and mercy, and the faithful intercession of Mary the holy mother of God, may this be for you all a blessed, healthy and grace-filled year of the lord.}
The Lord be with you……
(Bow down for the blessing)
May God, the source and origin of all blessing,
grant you grace,
pour out his blessing in abundance,
and keep you safe from harm throughout the year. Amen.
May he give you integrity in the faith,
endurance in hope,
and perseverance in charity
with holy patience to the end. Amen.
May he order your days and your deeds in his peace,
grant your prayers in this and in every place,
and lead you happily to eternal life.
Amen.
And may the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son,+ and the Holy Spirit,
come down on you and remain with you forever.
Amen.
Dismissal:
Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
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HOMILY:
It's always excellent to dedicate the new calendar year to God, and God's Kingdom, and God's vision for the world.
For this is indeed the Year of the Lord, 2021.
....
In good times and in times of trial .. God has shown us the direction, priority and values that show us the way to live and respond in any circumstances ...
it's also very fitting to dedicate this new year to the prayer and intercession of the first and most perfect disciple .. mary the mother of god ...
Mary - a woman of faith;
The willing handmaiden of the. Lord.
faithfully Saying yes to all that God was doing in her life.
woman of prayer &
praising God for his justice, his loving kindness and overflowing concern for the poor and the humble
Our lady - Pondering and treasuring in her heart, all that happened to her and around her.
filled with generosity and practical charity and concern for others.
faithful and willing intercessor on behalf of the needy, to her beloved Son.
In the readings for this feast day, it says "Happy /. blessed," are the people because God's hand is upon his people ... God cares for them.
God is guiding them, God is concerned for them and faithful to them.
We are blessed because God's hand is upon us,
God's loving presence is with us, even when we are not happy or fortunate or when things are not going well, or even when we are not being treated well. Calling always for human dignity and justice to be given to all who are mistreated.
(Commentary)
"Because Jesus, though a real human, like ourselves, truly and rightly calls God his Father. He is the son and heir of God. Jesus is free of all restrictions and enslavements, and we too, plunged into Christ in baptism, are similarly heirs and made-free. All this depends on Jesus fully sharing our human nature. (For he is truly), 'born of a woman.'
"Where did he get his human existence from, if not from Mary?"
"At the Council of Ephesus, (AD 431), the controversial and dissenting theologian, Nestorius wanted Mary to be called merely 'Christotokos' or 'Christ-bearer', but the Council insisted that the man Jesus, who was fully God, derived his whole being from Mary: she was 'Theotokos', 'God-bearer'. The whole person who was God was born of Mary, not just a human Christ. From Mary, he derived his genes, his DNA, his flesh-and-blood, his temperament (which was divine too), his habits of mind, his warmth of personality. He was utterly, frankly and joyfully human, and yet those who opened their eyes and ears to him could also revere him as God." (HW)
In today's Gospel .....
"The cosy picture of the bright-eyed child in the clean wooden manger (with the ox and the donkey peeping in from a respectful distance) has been cleaned up over the centuries.......The picture of the stable in Bethlehem is actually one of destitution. There was no room for the new-born in the normal living quarters, and his worried mother had to lodge him in the only space available, a feeding trough for cattle, perched on top of their fodder. That was where the ragged sheep-minders found him. They too were the poorest of the poor, no sheep of their own just hired for the night. Perhaps they got a drink of goats'-milk or a crust of bread for their shivering pains. Whilst Matthew's gospel (which is not heard today), does at least have the baby worshipped by those rather splendid Wise Men from the East, with their noble and powerfully symbolic gift; No gifts forthcoming from today's rough crew of shepherds."
"As we worry about our post-Christmas waistlines, and set out on our New Year resolutions, it makes us reflect on where true blessedness lies, and who are the chosen ones of the Lord."
"Surely, one might be tempted to say, (if only seeing with the eyes of this world), God could have rustled up more suitable worshippers for his Incarnate Son than these scruffy down-and-outs? Of course, (and thanks be to God), - He did not!" (HW)
As this brand new year begins…. Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us.
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References:
Fr Paul W. Kelly
Commentaries signed "HW" are by Dom Henry Wansbrough of Ampleforth Abbey. © Copyright 1996-2019 Universalis Publishing Ltd ·
Image Credit: ID: 22831801. Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. By alphaspirit.it
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Archive of homilies and reflections: http://homilycatholic.blogspot.com.au
To contact Fr. Paul, please email: paulwkelly68@gmail.com
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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 - 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, and 2009 by the NCC-USA. (National Council of Churches of Christ - USA)
"The Psalms" ©1963, 2009, The Grail - Collins publishers.
Prayers of the Faithful - " Together we pray" by Robert Borg'. E.J. Dwyer, Publishers, (1993) . (Sydney Australia).
Sung "Mass In Honour of St. Ralph Sherwin" - By Jeffrey M. Ostrowski. The Gloria. Copyright © 2011 ccwatershed.org.
Christmas Hymn - "Word Made Flesh" by Paul W. Kelly. Based upon: John's Gospel 1:14, 1 John 4:9 , & Isaiah 9:2, 6, 7.
(Written on 8/5/20; 10/9/20). Arranged and sung by Stefan Kelk, with adjusted lyrics. 2020. https://www.airgigs.com/user/stefankelk
Marian Hymn - "Salve Regina Mater Misericordiae." (Traditional 11th Century). Melody: Mainz (1712), Hymn #783 - Brébeuf Hymnal. From https://www.ccwatershed.org/hymn/
Marian Hymn – "Quem Terra, Pontus, Aethera." ("Whom Earth and Sea and Sky Proclaim"). Traditional 6th Century Hymn. Melody: Bartholomaus Gesius (d.1613). #376 - Brébeuf Hymnal. From https://www.ccwatershed.org/hymn/
[ Production - KER - 2021]
May God bless and keep you.
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