Solemnity of Mary

My Dear Parishioners,
 
We gather to celebrate the Lord’s Day on this first day of the civil New Year 2017. Today the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. As we consider the Blessed Virgin Mary and her YES to God’s will we know that so many things were unknown to her.  The Lord did not reveal to Mary all that she would experience as a result of her YES. The joys and sorrows were all unknown, mysteries which she would experience in God’s own time. The Lord provided her with the strength to accept the plan He established which would win our salvation through her Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
 
The New Year is always a time to reflect on what lies ahead. The days, weeks and months of 2017 are not revealed to us and so we do not know what waits for us. We need to be like the Blessed Virgin Mary by placing our trust in God, putting our lives into His hands knowing that He will be with us no matter what. We are so use to having everything under our control and yet we know that this cannot always be. We need to surrender control to God and like Mary reflect on the presence of God in the happenings of our life.
 
Change is one of the features which take place in time, whether we like it or not. The New Year will indeed contain changes, some of them beneficial and others somewhat hurtful but none the less they will occur. In pondering time and our life, which is moving so quickly, we must look to the Mother of God and Ever Virgin Mary for strength.
 
In closing I offer this NEW YEAR’S PRAYER for your reflection:
Remember us, O God; from age to age, be our comforter. You have given us the wonder of time, blessings in days and nights, seasons and years. Bless your children at the turning of the year and fill the months ahead, with the bright hope that is ours, in the coming of Christ. You are our God, living and reigning, forever and ever. Amen
 
My prayers and bests wishes for a happy, healthy and blessed New Year!
Father Zig