A New Year to Continue Hoping in the Lord

   

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

01 January 2025

 

First Reading: Numbers 6:22-27

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

Second Reading: Galatians 4:4-7

Gospel: Luke 2:16-21

 

Reflection

By: Anton B. Ocampo

The theme of the Jubilee Year 2025 is "Pilgrims of Hope." In the secular calendar, January 1 is  the start of a brand new year. The said date in the Liturgical Calendar, which is the calendar of the Holy Mother Church, is dedicated to the celebration of the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. Our Blessed Mother is a perfect example of someone who continued to hope in the Lord. Throughout the course of her earthly life, the Blessed Mother always made the choice to hope in God, no matter the situation. She did not let any circumstance become a reason to not hope in the Lord. The time and years may have changed, yet our Blessed Mother still hoped in the Lord.

Usually, whenever a new year is about to start, many people prepare a list which everyone knows as “New Year’s Resolution(s). In this list, they state which aspects of their lives they plan to change or improve on. This is a very good thing for various reasons, especially if it is for the better of people. However, the celebration of the Church reminds us that there is one thing that we should never change - hope in the Lord. No matter how many years pass by, we should always choose to hope in the Lord. This is the lesson that our Blessed Mother Mary Ever-Virgin teaches us.

In the First Reading, God provides Moses with the prescribed formula that must be used by Aaron and his sons whenever the Israelites are to be blessed by them. The formula clearly emphasizes why everyone must always hope in the Lord. God will always bless and protect all those who hope in Him with all their hearts and minds. The Responsorial Psalm even provides a brief summary of why everyone must hope in the Lord God no matter what happens. As stated in the Responsorial Psalm for this celebration: “May the Lord bless us in His mercy.” The Lord God never stops blessing us out of His everlasting mercy for us. Because of this, we should always continue to hope in Him. The Second Reading focuses on the greatest gift God freely gave to us - the promised Messiah who is none other than our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Holy Child who was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a manger the night of the First Christmas in the city of Bethlehem. By sending His only Begotten Son who is also the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, God showed us why we should all hope in Him all the time. No other deity would do this except the one true God who has showed us His grace, mercy, and love through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Gospel talks about the visit of the shepherds and the circumcision of the Savior. After visiting the Baby Jesus, the shepherd praised and glorified God for choosing to give hope to humanity through the Holy Child. In fact, this is implied by the Holy Name of Jesus, which was mentioned in the second part of the Gospel. Jesus came to save us all. By doing so, God brought hope to all.

We are reminded at the start of the New Year that we should always continue to hope in the Lord. No matter the situations we face in the coming year or in years to come, no matter how many years pass by, as Christians, we should always continue to hope in the Lord God. Let us ask Our Lady to help us in hoping in God throughout the days of our life.

Prayer

Lord, You know everything about us. Despite that, You continue to invite us to hope in You. We want to hope in You always. Please help ud make the correct choice of always hoping in You. Amen.

Mary, Mother of Hope, pray for us.