SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD (YEAR A, B, C)

1st Reading        Numbers 6: 22-27

Psalm                  Ps. 67: 2-3.5.6 and 8 (R. 2a)

2nd Reading      Galatians 4: 4-7

Gospel                 Luke 2: 16-21

THREEFOLD BLESSING FOR THE NEW YEAR

Dear people of God, we are delighted to see a new year dawning on us. The first day of the year is a Sunday, which makes us think of Sunday as "the first day of the Week" (Jn. 20:1; Acts 20: 7; 1 Cor. 16: 2; Rev. 1:10). Although the year is not a week, we still have this idea because Sunday is the beginning of the year. 

On a more solemn note, today we celebrate the SOLEMNITY OF MARY, MOTHER OF GOD. A good understanding of Jesus as God, when we understand the Triune God, helps us to appreciate the fact that Mary is the Mother of God. Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity is God, and this affirms that Mary is a THEOTOKOS (God-bearer).

Even as we celebrate on a threefold level (a new year, Sunday, and Mary as Mother of God), coupled with '3' as the number ending the new year (2023), I elect to make you aware of the threefold blessing of God for us at the start of the year. These blessings come with a responsibility whose performance will keep us living in faith.

The first reading for today is from the last portion of Chapter 6 of the book  Numbers (6: 22-27). It is the Priestly Benediction for all Israelites, not just the Nazirites in the preceding passage (Num. 6: 1-21). What makes it priestly is that it is issued to the priestly line of Aaron, and they are to bless in this way (Num. 6:23).  

The first blessing is that of KEEPING. "May the Lord bless you and KEEP you" (Num. 6: 24). The Hebrew uses SHAMAR (שָׁמַר), and it is the same word that is used in Gen. 2: 15 when the Lord entrusted the care of the earth to man to dress and keep it. To KEEP is peculiar to a Shepherd. God is the Shepherd who keeps his people ever in mind. The SHAMAR means to protect, guard, and also to watch over. As we walk through the uncertainties of the new year, the valley of the shadow of death (Ps. 23: 3) we are assured of the protective power of God. In fact, "God keeps the feet of His godly ones, but the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; For not by might shall a man prevail" (1 Sam. 2: 9).

The second blessing is the GRACIOUSNESS OF GOD. "The Lord make his face shine on you, and be GRACIOUS to you" (Num. 6: 25). The grace of God is the mercy of God. It is the undeserving favour of God. This is contrasted with the hidden face of God (Ps. 13: 1). The hidden face of God is a sign of danger, hopelessness, and of God's deliberate abandonment of a person. Additionally, it describes God withholding his loving care. That the face of God will shine upon you is a reversal of God's decision to continue to make his presence felt in your life. This becomes grace for us because we do not deserve it. We do not deserve it because we trespass against God. In the face of this, he still wants us to invoke his favour (CHANAN - חָנַן) to merit his loving care. 

The third blessing is the PEACE of God. "The Lord lift His countenance on you and give you PEACE" (Num. 6: 26). In times of distress, it was believed that God had "hidden his face" and abandoned his people (Deut. 31: 18; Ps. 30: 8; 44: 25; 104: 29). The lifting of his countenance, his face, will grant PEACE (SHALOM). The absence of the face of God also means destruction and war. The Lord will offer PEACE, SHALOM (שָׁלֹם). The peace that he will offer goes beyond the mere absence of war. The richness of the word PEACE (SHALOM) includes “prosperity (Psalm 37:11; Proverbs 3:2), longevity, happiness in a family (Psalm 128:6), safety, security (Psalm 4:9; 122:6-8), good health (Psalm 38:4), friendship (Jeremiah 38:22), and general well-being.” 

There are two responsibilities that I believe we have to keep up with to live our faith. Today, we are presented with Mary as the model of faith because she becomes the exemplar of reflection on the goodness of God. God showed many instances in the event of the birth of Christ to express his abiding presence with them. Mary showed an attitude that singled her as the model of faith. 

The Gospel, according to Luke, recounts that "Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart" (Lk. 2: 19). The things relate to what the shepherds said as told them by the angel (Lk. 2: 18). Mary KEPT them (συντηρέω). She took interest in them; she preserved them; paid attention to them; never let them pass by without due consideration of them; and she did it not to forget the. 

Mary points to us how we quickly forget the goodness of God in our lives and how we do not pay much attention to the Word of God. She teaches us to pay attention to the protection of God, the graciousness of God, and the peace of God. 

The second responsibility is PONDERING (SYMBALLO- συμβάλλω). It is not enough to take note of God's goodness. We are shown by the example of Mary to reflect on them. The word PONDER (SYMBALLO) means to discuss. Extensively, it is to reflect and meditate on God's goodness. 

As we begin this year, Mary gives us the instruments to continue to merit the goodness of God. She teaches us that it is not enough to hear and marvel at the Word of God and the goodness of God but to continue to reflect on them. Hearing and reflecting make up two principal wings of faith. 

May God continue to KEEP US, GIVE US HIS GRACE, and GIVE US PEACE as we commence the year. May we also endeavour to pay attention to his goodness and continue to ponder them in our hearts. 

Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

Pax et Bonum

Happy New Year.