Number 6:22-27 / Galatians 4:4-7 / Luke 2:16-21
We began the new year with anticipation as well as with a celebration.
Some would stay up for the countdown from last year to welcome the new year.
Some would rather sleep from last year to this year, so as to begin the new year early and bright.
Regardless of how we welcomed and began the new year, we want to have a good start.
For us Catholics, a good start to the new year would be that we come for Mass.
We come for Mass to give thanks to God for bringing us to this new year.
We come for Mass to also pray for blessings for the year ahead.
We ask the Lord our God to protect and guard us from evil, from danger and from harm.
We ask the Lord our God for guidance and wisdom to carry out His will for us.
We ask the Lord our God to strengthen our faith in the face of challenges and difficulties that will come our way.
Today is also the 8th day of the Christmas Octave.
On this day, the Church dedicates it to Mary under the title Mary, Mother of God.
So, we also begin this new year invoking Mary’s intercession for her motherly care for us.
Mary is the Mother of God, she is also the Mother of the Church, she is also the Mother of all who are united in her Son Jesus Christ.
The gospel tells us that eight days after His birth, Jesus was circumcised, and His parents gave Him the name Jesus.
The name “Jesus” means “God saves” or “God is salvation”.
Indeed, the greatest blessing from God is the gift of Jesus our Saviour.
At every Mass, we celebrate and give thanks for God’s saving love for us.
We began the new year by coming for Mass and praying for God’s blessings.
Let us also begin every day by coming for Mass and praying for God’s blessings on us, on our family and our loved ones, on our Church, and also on the world.
As we begin the new year with God’s blessings, let us also begin each new day by coming for Mass and invoking God’s blessings on us and on our world.