Sunday

1 Jan 2020

Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord; Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, Cycle A Click here for all content for this cycle Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord; Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, Cycle A

SUNDAY SUMMARY

Numbers 6:22-27  Moses and Aaron receive words of blessing for the nation now and forever.

Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 The ends of the earth benefit from the blessing of God’s holy people.

Galatians 4:4-7  We call God our Father because we share the life of the Son and his Spirit.

Luke 2:16-21  Shepherds glorify God for what they’ve seen, while Mary treasures all in her heart.

To access PREPARE THE WORD's library of Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary homilies, click here.

Homilist’s overview of January image

Homilist’s overview of January

Liturgical themes and feasts

Happy new year of grace! The Octave is ended, but the Christmas season lasts until the Baptism of the Lord. So if you want to leave the tree and decorations up a little longer, it’s OK.

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The inner word

What’s in your heart?

Mary "kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart." During the Octave of Christmas, the church has been contemplating the newborn Jesus, God's gift of self to us and all of creation.

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Exploring the word image

Exploring the word

Now is the proper time

There’s no intrinsic reason why a new year should be any different from an old one. While we’re conscious of having turned a page on a whole new calendar, New Year's Day is really no more than just another sunrise. Still, we greet each new year with hope for the chance to be born again to new life and possibilities.

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In other words image

In other words

The Sunday gospel in everyday English

As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. “Let’s get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us.” They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger.

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Homily stories image

Homily stories

Mother listens best

In the past few years I've been to more funerals than I care to count as my parents' generation crosses the threshold into all that is unseen. One theme that runs constant at the funerals for mothers is "Mom was a good listener."

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Homily stories image

Homily stories

Mary, our once and future hope

There is always a market for nostalgia. Depending on our age, we look back at the '40s or '60s or even the '80s as the "good old days."

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Prayers

Penitential Act & Prayer of the Faithful

Like the shepherds who went in haste to see the child Jesus, we eagerly seek to receive God's forgiveness and blessings.

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Quotes

As mariners are guided into port by the shining of a star, so Christians are guided to heaven by Mary.

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