Merry Christmas and happy New Year!
On this day we celebrate many different realities. We celebrate the beginning of a new calendar year. We celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. We celebrate the fact that this celebration brings to a close the eight day Christmas octave. In the Extraordinary Form we celebrate our Lord's circumcision for it was on the eighth day following His birth when He was brought into the temple to be circumcised and thus was given the name of Jesus.
What we celebrate today is the same reality that was celebrated only eight days ago. For it was here that we acknowledged the reality that God's love was so great that He came to dwell among us. By calling Mary the Mother of God we are professing that Jesus is God in the second Person of the Holy Trinity. This is to say that there was never a time in which Christ failed to be God. It would be an error to say that Mary gave birth to Jesus as a human person alone for this would profess that there was a time in which Jesus failed to be God, but we hear in John's Gospel: "In the Beginning was the Word and the Word was with God." Thus when Christ would offer Himself upon the cross it was God who offered Himself for us in order to redeem us from our sin. Through the Lord's circumcision foreshadows our redemption for here drops of blood where brought forth which lead us towards the complete shedding of blood in which He would come to offer upon the cross.
Mary has always been held in high esteem within the Church for she has always remained close to her Son who is the Redeemer. She remained close to Him at the moment when He offered Himself upon the cross. From the very beginning of time she was prepared to be the God Bearer as we can see from the Immaculate Conception. Through the Annunciation we can say that the answer is "yes" Mary did know all that would unfold for her concerning who her Son is. It is her desire that we not be led to her, but that through her motherly care we will be joined entirely in thought and deed to her Son. Mary is a perfect reflection of God's love for us because through her we see a heart which pours out with love for her Son. As we embark upon this new calendar year may we entrust ourself to her loving care.
With the arrival of each new year it is the norm to make resolutions which try to better us within the upcoming year. All matters are trivial if we are not attempting to grow in holiness and love for God. In this new year may it become our desire to allow God to be made more manifest within our life. Wherever vice is found may we surrender ourself to our merciful Lord who desires that we be reconciled with Him. The world is in need of peace and so as we embark upon this new year may we remember that it is Christ who brings peace into this world.
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