It’s no coincidence as we begin the New Year, and celebrate the “Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God,” we are invited to contemplate the following prayer and its promise:
The Lord bless you and keep you!
The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!
These words, found in today’s first reading, were part of God’s covenant with Moses. When conveyed to the faithful through his brother Aaron, the Prophet and High Priest, all these things were promised to authentic people of the Covenant (see Numbers 6:22-27). Because of these words, the Israelites, the Chosen People, always trusted God’s blessings would remain with them! And so, as they began new days, months, and years, they always took comfort in the words of the promises made to them. As we are people of the New Covenant, and sisters and brothers in the Lord Jesus, we believe we have also inherited these promises of God’s blessing. And so, as we look to our own futures, we too can be sure God’s blessing will be with us.
Isn’t this exactly what the Incarnation and birth of our Savior is all about? Because of the Holy Child born of the Virgin in Bethlehem, can’t we claim to be blessed, enlightened, and also treated with graciousness, kindness and peace? And can’t we say that Mary, because of her sublime cooperation with God’s will, was surely and perfectly instrumental in passing on these great blessing from God to all of us? And it’s for this reason, she who was chosen to be the mother of Jesus, and the one the Angel Gabriel proclaimed to be “Full of Grace,” has been called the “Mother of God.”
She’s also been called Ark of the Covenant, Cause of Our Joy, Cause of our Salvation, Comfort and Help of the Afflicted, Gate of Heaven, Health of the Sick, Lady of Good Counsel, Loving Mother, Mother of Sorrows, Queen of Heaven, Refuge of Sinners, She Who Shows the Way, and Throne of Wisdom. Any one of these titles, and so many others attributed to her, describe a woman destined by God as a channel of grace and of blessings for all who believe. This is exactly what we celebrate in this Christmas season, and in a special way on this “Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.”
On this New Year’s Day, as we celebrate the Divine Motherhood of Mary, may we be confident about the blessings we have and will receive through her. We once again contemplate the birth of the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, and his mother’s role in our salvation. These things promise us many graces and blessings for today and for always!
And so, may the words of that ancient prayer, given to Moses and spoken through the Prophet and High Priest Aaron, inspire us as well. My friends, with confidence in the continued protection and guidance of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and with hope for a bright New Year, let’s pray with confidence: May the Lord bless us and keep us, may his face shine upon us, and be gracious to us; may the Lord look upon us kindly and give us his peace!
Praise God! Friar Timothy
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