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Exploring the word

01 Jan 2012 - Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord; Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, Cycle B

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. We pray for a peaceful world. We anticipate new beginnings. We make resolutions to quit smoking, exercise more, eat better, make better decisions for ourselves and those we love. This could be the year we finally keep our promises. If we look back at past years and former resolutions that began bravely and ended miserably, we might be discouraged. Starting over in a new town, we may wind up with the same old problems if we change only the outer circumstances and not the inner person. Newness of life is not achieved by rearranging the deck chairs while remaining aboard a ship bound for disaster. If we drink too much, we have to give up the booze, period. If we cheat, we have to come clean and go straight. If we’ve been tepid in our family life, we have to resolve to commit. If we’re morally lazy, we have to pledge to be ambitious for virtue. If we don’t pray, now’s the time to start. If we’re depressed or anxious, we should seek professional support and guidance. If our goals are fuzzy, we should seek spiritual direction and discernment. If we’re lonely, we can seek community in parish involvement, faith-sharing, or volunteer work. Why today? Why not some other day? Precisely because we live in a human society that offers mutually established markers for the measurement of time and progress. Now is the time; now is always the time, if we understand anything about the magnificent present tense of the “I AM” God we worship. God blesses today because today is where we always find ourselves. Today is the most important day of our lives because it’s the day in which we live and move and have our being. Yesterday’s gone; tomorrow is no sure thing. Today is the only day in which you can make a difference. So may the Lord bless us and keep us, shine the divine face on us, and be gracious to us this day and the coming year. And may Mary, Mother of God and mother of the church, surround us with her nurturing love and guidance. We can follow her example, pondering our present circumstances in our hearts and seeking understanding of where we stand and where we might yet be led. Take time to determine today what needs changing and resolve to take that first step into a brave and blessed new future. Related scripture links Infancy narratives in Matthew and Luke: Matt. 1:18-2:23; Luke 1:26-56, 2:1-52 The Woman in John: John 2:1-12, 19:25-27 Mary at Pentecost: Acts 1:13-14, 2:1-4 Catechism links Natures of Jesus: CCC 464-469 Mary, Mother of God: CCC 144; 484-507; 721-726 Mary, Mother of the Church: CCC 773; 829; 963-972

Authors Alice Camille

Mary resolutions new year resolutions mother of god

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Word of the Week

24 November 2024

Solemnity

\sə-'lem-nə-tē\

From Latin sollemnis for “fixed ceremonial,” highest-ranking day of the church calendar that celebrates a mystery of faith such as the Trinity, an event in the life of Jesus, Mary, the Mother of God, or another important saint. Solemnities override every other feast or memorial, including Sundays in Ordinary Time. The church assigns Sundays and solemnities three readings—from a prophet, apostle, and gospel—to instruct the faithful in the work of salvation.

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