R1 Numbers 6:22–27 | R2 Galatians 4:4–7 | Gospel Luke 2:16–21

Dear friends in Christ,

With the year 2025 ended, we can sit back and take account of what went well, what we achieved, the hopes that were fulfilled, the joys, happiness and laughter that we had, and also the struggles we had, questions about life’s challenges and confusions that we found no answers to, what failed, the burdens we carried, maybe resolutions that were not kept, visions that changed course, regrets about what went wrong or plans that were not accomplished.

Whatever maybe the story of our experiences this past year, let us still find reasons to be grateful to God because He had our backs. If God did not permit certain dreams to materialize, He had a purpose for it. As St Paul would say: In all circumstances let us give thanks to God (1 Thess. 5:18). Let us thank God for His boundless graces – for the graces received, both acknowledged and not acknowledged, and count the challenges we faced as opportunities for growth. Being grateful does not mean that everything went well. It shows that we trust in God.

As we launch ourselves into the New Year, it is apt that we usher ourselves into the New Year with the priestly blessing as proclaimed in R1: The LORD bless you and keep you: The LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”

Dear friends in Christ, the repetition of the name of God at the beginning of each verse strongly emphasizes God as the origin of all blessings.  As it is the priest’s duty to pray and intercede on behalf of the people of God, so is the role of our mothers, and more importantly, of the Mother of God. Just as God instructed Moses to bless the people, the blessings of our mothers are channels of God’s graces. They offer prayers for us, prayers of support and protection.

We can safely say that the prayers of our mothers rise far higher in power than many other intercessors, not because we are perfect. But, of course, such prayers come when we have good relationship with our mothers. If such can be said of our biological mothers, what then can be said of our Blessed Mother Mary whose relationship with the Son of God gives meaning to our whole existence especially in the economy of human salvation? Since Christ is the Son of God, it simply follows that Mary is the Mother of God.

Paul, in R2, took us through the mission and unique role of Mary as the Mother of Jesus, and Mother of God. Gal 4:4 states “when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman.” This is a reference to Mary which once again, emphasizes the divine motherhood of Mary and her association with the Redeemer, thus  summing up this “Sonship and Motherhood” in Christ – that is, the Motherhood of Mary to Christ, and the Sonship of Christ to Mary, and by implication, our relationship to Mary the mother of God. Through her, we have received adoption as God’s children and heir of His Kingdom. Therefore, as His children, and we can cry out with Jesus: ‘Abba, Father’.

In the Gospel, the story of the birth of Jesus is narrated with special emphasis on the visit of the shepherds to Mary, Joseph and Jesus. But what strikes us in this passage is how Mary responded. While the shepherds arrived Bethlehem in haste and shared the message that they had received, Mary reflected: “Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

Therefore, Mary’s role was not only to give birth to Jesus. She was not only the Mother of God in a physical sense but also in a spiritual sense, nurturing the life of Christ in her heart. Hence, she is teaching us how to begin the year – not in noise, but by paying attention and being reflective; not to rush, but to ponder in quietude.

Although, Mary did not understand everything, however, she is a model for us in our own journey of faith. She shows us that God works even in the ordinary moments of our lives. So, let us begin the New Year not only with a plan, but with faith because faith will help soften any fears that lie ahead of us. It will strengthen our hope. It will help us to know that God is with us always – through thick and thin.

Dear friends in Christ, as we begin the New Year, many of us may have mixed feelings, anxieties and uncertainties about what the New Year will bring. Let us not be under any pressure – either to prove ourselves or our worth. Rather, let us be grateful for who we are. Let us not dwell on the failures of our past. Let us pick ourselves up and move on with God’s grace and spirit.

This does not take away the fact that we will fail. The difference should be: when we fail, let us not see ourselves as rejected or abandoned but as sons and daughters of God. Even in our struggles, let us be patient and listen, watch and reflect like Mary did. Then, she will help us to ponder and treasure all the experiences in our hearts, not with regrets but with trust.

So, before we make new resolutions, or before we try to fix anything, let us live this New Year knowing and believing that God is not waiting for us to earn His love. He already loves us, and He loves always. As we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God today, may her intercessions bring abundant blessings to us and our loved ones through Christ our Lord.