HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF MARY MOTHER OF GOD.

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Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 67:2-3. 5-6. 8. R/v.2a; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21.

“A NEW YEAR UNDER THE MATERNAL CARE OF MARY”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.

·      Happy New Year to you all! May God’s name be praised both now and forever! It is not by our power but by God’s love and grace. Tell your neighbour congratulations!!!

·      Today also be the first day of the brand new year of 2023 and the church puts forward to us a special woman for our reflection because of the special role she played in our salvation history as the mother of God. It means therefore that the church recommends that anyone who desires to succeed exceedingly in this New Year must be under her maternal protection. We must be ready like her to say “behold I am the handmaid of the Lord let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

·      The solemnity we are celebrating today declared at the Council of Ephesus in 431AD at a certain point became a contentious issue. But there is always a simple syllogism that cannot be denied which is, “if Jesus is God, and Mary is the mother of Jesus, it therefore, means that Mary is the mother of God”!

·      We begin the New Year with the celebration of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. This is a fitting and proper celebration, for two main reasons. First, just as every human life starts in the womb of the mother, so also the life of the New Year for humanity starts with Mary, the Mother of the Church. 

·      Second, the New Year usually comes with some amount of uncertainties and even fears, for many obvious reasons. Starting the year with the Mother of God gives us a considerable reason to feel secure and at peace just as an infant snuggles in the soft and warm comfort of his mother’s loving embrace. 

·      With our lives entrusted to Mary at the beginning of this year, we are assured of divine protection and providence. This is because her presence is also a guarantee of the constant presence of her Son Jesus. Where Jesus is, Mary is there; where Mary is, Jesus is there. There is nothing to fear as we begin the New Year. Mary reminds us that her Son, Jesus, will be with us always as he has promised. Every New Year is still and always the Year of the Lord.

·      As we start the New Year under the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, if we must reap the blessing that comes with the New Year, then we must submit to her maternal direction. We must like the Shepherds in the gospel reading hurry to find Jesus and since wherever Mary was, Jesus is most certainly close by, if we find Mary then we must find Jesus, but we must also be ready to follow her instruction “Do whatever he tells you”. Hence, to succeed in this New Year, we must obey the commandments of God.

·      Moreover, the New Year is not only about celebrations. It is also a challenge to conversion and new beginnings. That is why we make our New Year’s resolutions. As Christians, our resolutions must not be superficial and passing, but rather fundamental and lasting. And fittingly, this we do again with Mary. Those who leave everything in God’s hands will eventually see God’s hands in everything. Your New Year resolution can only succeed if God is involved.

·      As we enter into a new year, there will be a need for many of us to be conscious and careful about the utterances and declarations we make. Often, we try to impose obligations on God because it is a New Year as if He owes us. We expect God to decorate our world with golden opportunities while we remain disobedient to Him. Is it fair?

  • God did not exclude afflictions, but He promised deliverance from all of them (Psalm 34:19).
  • God did not eliminate sicknesses and wounds, but He promised healing and restoration (Jer.30:19; Ex.15:26).
  • God did not make enemies disappear, but He promised to contend against those who contend against us (Psalm 35:1).
  • God did not exclude us from troubles, but he promised to answer us in the day of trouble (Psalm 20:1). 
  • People may rise against you, but God will defend you (Psalm 91:7). 
  • People may forget you, but God will take care of you (Psalm 27:10).

The New Year should challenge you to do things new things to have NEW YIELD. There are many new things we need to do just as there are many old things we should stop doing.

  • You find it boring to spend five minutes in prayer, but you could spend hours on the phone talking frivolously. 
  • You spend a lot of money shopping and buying things you do not need, but you give reasons why you cannot do charity.
  • “I will watch my weight this year.” Remember that you said the same thing last year, and you may still say it in years to come. You don’t need to register in a gym because it will be money wasted. Take a long walk and watch your diet.
  • You spend hours with friends at parties but five minutes with Lord in the Blessed Sacrament seems like a punishment.
  • You have three phones, but you don’t have a functional bible or rosary.
  • You want the best for yourself, but you don’t care about other people; that is selfishness.

·       Since God himself has instructed his priest in the first reading how to bless his people, as a priest of God, my own will not be different:  I decree that this New Year, shall be a year of uncommon testimonies! That God in this New year:

-       May he lead us out of darkness to his wonderful light, Amen!

-       May he hide us in the hollow of his hands where no devourer, no wickedness will ever harm us, Amen!

-       May no setbacks, sorrows, or anguish ever locate you in this New Year, Amen!

-       May no untimely death, near success experience ever locate you in this New Year, Amen!

-       You shall move from lack to superabundance in this New Year, Amen!

-       You shall move from faithlessness to faithfulness in this New Year, Amen!

-       The Lord shall permeate all your activities in this New Year, Amen!

-       The Lord shall put a new song in your mouth this New Year, Amen!

-       The Lord shall bless your going out and coming in this New Year, Amen!

-       May the Lord bless you and keep you, Amen!

-       May he let his face shine on you and be gracious to you, Amen!

-       May he grant you his peace, Amen!

·       Happy New Year to you all and may Mary the Mother of God continue to intercede for us all through Christ our Lord, Amen!

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