A Blessed Year
In the Hail Mary we pray to the Mother of God: “Blessed are you among women.” Mary was indeed blessed by God: God placed in her all his trust and all the blessings he would bring on all people through Jesus, her Son. On this New Year’s Day we wish one another all God’s blessings for the whole year to come. May God bless all of us today as he blessed Mary, that we too, may bring God’s love and joy to one another and give Jesus to this cold world.
Num 6:22-27
God spoke to Moses: “Tell Aaron and his sons, This is how you are to bless the People of Israel. Say to them, God bless you and keep you, God smile on you and gift you, God look you full in the face and make you prosper. In so doing, they will place my name on the People of Israel— I will confirm it by blessing them.”
Gal 4:4-7
But when the time arrived that was set by God the Father, God sent his Son, born among us of a woman, born under the conditions of the law so that he might redeem those of us who have been kidnapped by the law. Thus we have been set free to experience our rightful heritage. You can tell for sure that you are now fully adopted as his own children because God sent the Spirit of his Son into our lives crying out, “Papa! Father!” Doesn’t that privilege of intimate conversation with God make it plain that you are not a slave, but a child? And if you are a child, you’re also an heir, with complete access to the inheritance.
Lk 2:16-21
As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the shepherds 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. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the shepherds were impressed.
Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The shepherds returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they’d been told!
When the eighth day arrived, the day of circumcision, the child was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived.
Prayer
Our living and loving God,
to you belong all the ages.
For each of us you want this year to be
a time of grace.
Bless us, that like Mary
we may say yes to you and to your plans
for us and for the world.
Like Mary, may we grow closer to you
and give your Son Jesus to the world,
that those who seek may find in him
your truth, your justice and your love.
Reflection:
Numbers 6:22-27
God bless you and keep you
In the New Year 2023, I wish you good health, happiness, and God’s blessings in abundance. Today the Church invites us to begin the New Year with Mary, Mother of God. In 1968, Pope Paul VI promulgated January 1 to be observed as a day of prayer for “World Peace”. Two years later, in 1970, the pope instituted the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, which is also to be celebrated on the first day of every year. This solemnity is observed on January 1 to recognize the importance of Mary in the Christian life.
In today’s first reading from the Book of Numbers, we find a beautiful prayer which can be used as our personal wish and prayer for our loved ones in the New Year:
God bless you and keep you,
God smile on you and gift you,
May God look upon you full in the face and make you prosperous.
These are the first words we hear on this first day of the year, “The LORD bless you and keep you!” I think there is no greater blessing.
This New Year’s blessing expresses God’s care and concern for his people. We see a God who rejoices in his/her children’s well-being and unceasingly blesses them. This is also called the ‘priestly blessing’. We shall walk this year holding the hands of this loving and caring God and those of Mary, his mother and our Mother. We shall also hold hands with one another as one family of God, blessing one another.
As Christians, we are called to be a community of pilgrims, to walk in community and companionship; and never to walk our spiritual journey alone. As we begin our spiritual journey this year, it would be wise to seek the company of a spirit-filled community — like the Holy Family and the shepherds in today’s gospel.
And, as members of the pilgrim Church, it is our responsibility to reach out and bless one another with the kind of blessing God taught Moses and Aaron. Let us reflect today on how we can make 2023 a year of companionship, community, and mutual blessings. MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU!
Video available on youtube: God bless you and keep you