Solemnity of Mary

Firstly, let me wish you all the happiest of New Years! I hope that you can enter into this New Year full of hope, anticipation and faith that God will be with you, with us, in all that we say, think and do and that we can look positively toward seeking opportunities to say, Yes, to Him, whenever we hear His call to us, just as Mary did.

Today, this weekend, we celebrate the life of Mary, the Mother of God. We take some time to think about who she was and the impact of what she committed to undertake, as a young, Jewish girl.

I watched a film over the Christmas-period, called, The Nativity. It was a different take on the story we know so well and it was starker and more in your face  than our usual syrupy films and animations. It showed Mary as she was, a young girl of around thirteen or fourteen, engaged to Joseph. They were both of good families and well-regarded in their local, small community.

The film went on to show the scandal of  Mary becoming pregnant outside of marriage and not to her betrothed! It showed the doubt, the hurt and uncertainty of Joseph, along with the pain and frustration of Mary, at not being believed by her family, friends and community. It showed her isolation by that same community and their increasing loathing and distancing of her and from her. But it also showed her continued strength of faith in God that all would come good in the end. Her faith never wavered.

While depicting clearly a young girl in trouble with her community, the film showed her determination to do God’s will and her insistence to live to the promise she had made to Him that not her will, but His be done.

When it came to the birth of the baby, Jesus, Mary was not surrounded by mid-wives and doctors or nurses in a sterile setting but rather she was in a stable with no help, friends or family, other than Joseph. She had a stall filled with hay rather than a clean and sterile cot with blankets and such. And, and she had her faith. Her faith that God was fulfilling His promise to and through her.

Rather than friends and family members phoning and texting and Tick-Tocking their good wishes or exchanging updates on Facebook and Twitter, she had a visit from some lowly shepherds who came to tell her what they had heard in the hills; how they had been told by the angels to come and see. She had this group of strangers confirming God’s earlier message to her, that this day, the Messiah, the Saviour of the world, had been born. And Mary, “treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

So, what do we take from this, from Mary’s story, from her involvement in our Christmas Story? Well, we are now one week on from our Christmas Day and I wonder how much of that Christmas Story is still alive for us, still fresh for us in our hearts and minds and spirits? How much of it is still filling us up with joy and celebration and rejoicing? I wonder how long it was before the novelty of the day, wore off and became lost amidst the hustle and bustle of Boxing Day fever and the rush to buy even more stuff for next year?

At this end of 2022, what is it that we are taking with us into this new year of, 2023? What is going to be our starting point, our platform, for the New Year?

Now is the time for us to take stock and identify where we are at and what we need to do to move forward healthily and positively into this new year. Now is the time for us Christians to copy Mary’s example and to celebrate wholeheartedly God’s ultimate gift to each and every one of us – His Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ!

“My soul glorifies the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.” Through Mary, Christ came into the world. Through Christ, we are all sons and daughters of God: we are His heirs.

As heirs to the Father, let us remember his blessings given to the sons and daughters of Israel, through Moses and to Mary, “May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord let His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord uncover His face to you and bring you peace.”

And with this in our hearts, let us start the New Year rejoicing in His birth and celebrating with Mary, God’s promise to her, and to us all, that He will always be with us.

Bidding Prayers

1.      That we each seek out the opportunities to listen out for when God might be speaking to us and to then respond with our own positive, Yes. Lord in your mercy

2.      That we recognise those  that are in worse positions than we are and  act together to bring them help, support, love and kindness. Lord in your mercy

3.      That all those who are homeless, on the streets or who simply cannot manage in today’s economic climate are given the help they need. Lord in your mercy

4.      That as we enter this New Year, we do so with a sense of positivity and a determination to live God’s love for us in our dealings with others. Lord in your mercy

5.      That the sick of our parishes are supported and uplifted by our loving prayers and actions. Can we pray especially for two great characters of our parishes, Noelene Evans and Peggy McAllister who are both still in hospital. Lord in your mercy

6.      That all those that have died in this past year, especially those that have died over the Christmas period through gun and knife crimes, find eternal rest with the Lord. Lord in your mercy

7.      We ask Our Lady, Mary, the Mother of God, to intercede for us as we now pray together – Hail Mary, full of grace , , , , , ,