Numbers 6:22-27 / Galatians 4:4-7 / Luke 2:16-21
How we begin the day can shape our outlook for the rest of the day.
Similarly, how we begin the year can also shape our outlook for the rest of the year.
For us who come for Mass this morning, we want to begin the year with thanksgiving, and invoking the Lord for His blessings.
So, we would have foregone last evening's countdown, because we subscribe to this saying: Early to bed, early to rise, makes a person healthy, wealthy and wise.
Yes, we are wise enough to know that we need God's blessings in order to have peace in our minds and love in our hearts.
On this feast of Mary, the Mother of God, the gospel spoke of Mary is pondering and treasuring all that she had heard.
As we honour Mary and offer her our devotion, we too ponder and treasure what we have seen, what we have heard, and what we have learned.
We know that life is fragile, and we need to handle it with care, and with prayer.
And when we pray the Rosary, Mother Mary prays for us and with us, and God will do wonderful things for us.
Mary also prays that we will remember what God has revealed to us.
At the Annunciation, Mary was told that she would conceive and bear a son and she must name Him Jesus.
Today's Gospel recalls for us that Jesus is our Saviour.
May the name of Jesus be in our minds, on our lips and in our hearts.
May we always remember the name of Jesus for today and for the rest of the year.
In the name of Jesus, God will be gracious and He will bless us.