As we begin the new year, we surely want to begin it well. As it is said, all’s well that ends well.
So we had the count-down last night, we had well-wishes for each other, and we have entered into the new year quite well.
But we also know that we need to begin the new year well with God’s blessings. And that’s why we are here for Mass.
We want to give thanks to God and to invoke His blessings on this first day of the new year.
And the Lord God wants to give us His blessings. In the 1st reading, the Lord instructed Moses how to invoke the blessings from the Lord.
This first day of the year is also the eighth day after Christmas. The number 8 has the biblical meaning of a new creation.
As we heard in the gospel, when the eighth day came, and the child was to be circumcised, Mary and Joseph gave Him the name Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before His conception.
So the Word-made-flesh, the God-with-us, the Saviour has a name – Jesus – and it is by this name that we are saved and received God’s blessings.
And on this eighth day after Christmas, we also honour Mary as the Mother of God. We heard in the 2nd reading, when the appointed time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born a subject of the Law, to redeem the subjects of the Law.
Mary is this woman. Her role is God’s plan of salvation is remembered on this day and we honour her and offer her our devotion.
The honour and devotion that we offer Mary today, she will treasure and ponder them in her heart. And from her heart she will offer them to Jesus, together with our prayers, our intentions, our needs and our petition slips.
Let us also stay in Mary’s heart and keep watch with her in prayer, especially in praying the Rosary.
With Mary, all’s well that ends well, because all will end in the heart of Jesus our Saviour.
And may the Lord bless us and keep us. May the Lord let His face shine on us and be gracious to us. May the Lord uncover His face to us and brings us peace.