We are happy to welcome the New Year 2023, which the Holy Church dedicates this first day of the new year to the Blessed Mother Mary, the “Teotokos,” the Mother of God. It is a solemn dedication of this first day to her maternal protection. The Church is Marian in a sense that we depend much on her prayers and intercession for the whole world. Mary’s role to pray for us is our way to accept her as our mother, who is so near to God because of her cooperation in salvation history.
We start to think of our New Year’s resolutions in order to have a new beginning by considering positive things for ourselves, rather than not improving at all. This is the movement of our hearts.
Today’s scripture readings can draw us into the mystery of life. Maybe we are still expecting blessings which we have not yet received and look forward to receiving those blessing in the coming new year. Therefore, we are invited to join Mary to reflect upon those longings. We are reminded of the shepherds’ mysterious experience with the Holy Family, for they glorified the Savior and then returned to their work in the field with renewed life.
The first reading from the Book of Numbers is one of the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures that made a record of the history of God’s covenant with the people of Israel. It describes to us the great and orderly relationship with the people and God.
Today’s reading recalls God’s conversation with Moses, where He has given the instructions on how Aaron and his sons would bless the people of Israel. In all liturgical prayer, I am also given that gift of blessings to people, in the same way as a representative of God to dispense and to make known God’s loving actions.
The second reading, from Galatians 4 reflects on what it means to be children of God, and St. Paul expands on what it means to be an heir. Being an heir means that we are better than slaves, for we inherit the kingdom “until the date set by the father” (4:1-2). “But when the fullness of time had come” (4:4) at the time God deemed just right — “God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children” (4:4-5).
The gospel today narrates to us the visit of the shepherds. Just as God told Moses to tell Aaron and his sons how they were to bless the Israelites, God, through an angel, told Mary how she would bless the world. Let us reflect on some points to ponder:
First, the angels told the shepherds, who came, saw, and left blest. There is a great deal of human instrumentality going on for the Shepherds, Mary, and Joseph. We too are called to participate in the announcement of the coming of the Lord.
Second, Jesus’ birth is actually a blessing for all humanity, which refreshes the blessing of Aaron and his sons.
Third, the Lord’s face has been the light that shines upon us since His face was shined upon by the star at Bethlehem. He offers us peace, joy and love, which we know how each of these has taken place in our lives.
Today, as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Mother of God, we are invited to reflect in our hearts and praise God for His tenderness; thus, we must also show tenderness to one another.
On this great feast of the Incarnation, God assumed our human flesh and was born of a woman, whose name is Mary, who pondered all these things in her heart. She was prepared to be the mother of the most holy God. Maybe we remember some women we know, like our mothers, who have been committed to raising their children in the faith. They wake up every Sunday morning and bring their children to the church. When we are sick, our mothers are there to pray for us thru the intercession of the Blessed Mother Mary. Our mothers have been like Mary, always there to be our companion, and her presence brings us comfort and makes us calm.
In the words of St. Augustine, Mary’s divine motherhood derives from the divine Son that she carried in her womb, which in its own right is a miraculous sign. Her womb was sanctified for all time – which makes her the Perpetual Ever Virgin. “He chose the Mother he had created; he created the Mother he had chosen” (Serm. 69,3). Mary, being Virgin and Mother, defined her mission in the history of salvation as Mother of the Word and model of the Church.
Today at the beginning of a new year, when we look back, let us please forget our anger, frustrations, and resentments, so we can move forward, praising the name of Jesus who invites us to heal and become active participants of His divine mission this new year 2023.
A Grace-filled New Year to all.
Fr. Arlon, osa
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El Dictado del Corazón: La Solemnidad de María, la Madre de Dios
- Números 6:22-27
- Salmos 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
- Gal 4:4-7
- Lucas 2:16-21
Estamos felices de recibir el Año Nuevo 2023 (dosmil veinti-tres), que la Santa Iglesia dedica este primer día del nuevo año a María Santísima, la “Teotokos”, la Madre de Dios. Es una consagración solemne de este primer día a su protección materna. La Iglesia es mariana en el sentido de que dependemos mucho de sus oraciones e intercesión por el mundo entero. El papel de María de orar por nosotros es nuestra manera de aceptarla como nuestra madre, que está tan cerca de Dios por su cooperación en la historia de la salvación.
Empezamos a pensar en nuestra resolución de Año Nuevo para tener un comienzo nuevo y hacernos capaces de considerar cosas positivas para nosotros mismos en lugar de no mejorar en absoluto. Este es nuestro movimiento de nuestros corazones.
Las lecturas de las Escrituras de hoy pueden llevarnos al misterio de la vida. Tal vez todavía estemos esperando bendiciones que aún no hemos recibido y esperamos esa bendición en la llegada de este nuevo año. Por lo tanto, estamos invitados a unirnos a María para reflexionar sobre esos anhelos. Se nos recuerda la misteriosa experiencia de los pastores con la Sagrada Familia que glorifican al Salvador y luego regresan a su trabajo en el campo con una vida renovada.
La primera lectura del Libro de Números es uno de los primeros cinco libros de las Escrituras hebreas que registran la historia del pacto de Dios con el pueblo de Israel. Nos describe la gran y ordenada relación con el pueblo y Dios. La lectura de hoy recuerda la conversación de Dios con Moisés, y él ha dado instrucciones sobre cómo Aarón y sus hijos bendecirían al pueblo de Israel. En toda oración litúrgica, también se me da ese don de bendición a las personas de la misma manera como representante de Dios para dispensar y dar a conocer las acciones amorosas de Dios.
La segunda lectura, de Gálatas 4, reflexiona sobre lo que significa ser hijos de Dios y San Pablo amplía lo que significa ser heredero. Ser heredero significa que somos mejores que los esclavos, porque heredamos el reino “hasta el día señalado por el padre” (4:1-2). “Pero cuando vino la plenitud del tiempo” (4:4) en el momento que Dios consideró justo – “Dios envió a su Hijo, nacido de mujer, nacido bajo la ley, para redimir a los que estaban bajo la ley, para que recibiésemos la adopción de hijos” (4:4-5).
El evangelio de hoy nos narra la visita de los pastores. Así como Dios le dijo a Moisés que le dijera a Aarón y a sus hijos cómo debían bendecir a los israelitas. Dios a través de un ángel le dijo a María cómo iba a bendecir al mundo. Aquí están algunos puntos para reflexionar:
Primero, los ángeles les dijeron a los pastores, ellos vinieron, vieron y se fueron, bendijeron y enviaron. Hay una gran cantidad de instrumentos humanos en marcha, para los pastores, María y José. También nosotros estamos llamados a participar en el anuncio de la venida del Señor.
Segundo, el nacimiento de Jesús es en realidad una bendición para toda la humanidad que refresca la bendición de Aarón y sus hijos.
Tercero, el rostro del Señor ha sido la luz que alumbra sobre nosotros desde que Su rostro fue iluminado por la estrella en Belén. Nos ofrece la paz, la alegría y el amor que sabemos cómo se han producido en nuestra vida.
Hoy, al celebrar la Solemnidad de la Madre de Dios, nos invita a reflexionar en nuestro corazón y alabar a Dios por su ternura, por eso, también debemos mostrar ternura los unos a los otros.
Esta gran fiesta de la Encarnación, que Dios asumió nuestra carne humana y nació de una mujer, cuyo nombre es María, ella meditaba todas estas cosas en su corazón. Ella fue preparada para ser la madre del Dios santísimo. Tal vez recordemos a algunas mujeres que conocemos como nuestras madres que se han comprometido a criar a sus hijos en la fe. Despierta todos los domingos por la mañana para llevar a los niños a la iglesia. Cuando estamos enfermos, nuestras madres están allí para orar por nosotros a través de la intercesión de la Santísima Madre María. Nuestras madres han estado como María siempre ahí para ser nuestra compañera y su presencia nos tranquiliza y nos muestra consuelo.
En palabras de San Agustín, la maternidad divina de María deriva del Hijo divino que ella llevó en su seno, que en sí mismo es un signo milagroso. Su vientre fue santificado por todos los tiempos, lo que la convierte en la Perpetua Siempre Virgen. “Eligió a la Madre que había creado; creó a la Madre que había elegido» (Serm. 69,3). María, siendo Virgen y Madre, definió su misión en la historia de la salvación como Madre del Verbo y modelo de la Iglesia.
Hoy al comienzo de un nuevo año, cuando miremos hacia atrás, por favor olvidemos nuestros enojos, frustraciones y resentimientos. Sigamos adelante, alabando el nombre de Jesús que nos invita a sanar y convertirnos en participantes activos de su misión divina este nuevo año. 2023 (dosmil veinti-tres).
Pidamos a Dios por un Año Nuevo, lleno de Gracia para todos.
Padre Arlón, osa
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Extraordinary Latin Mass: The Feast of the Circumcision
Today is the first day of the year 2023. A grace-filled New Year to everyone. St. Augustine points out the difference between the pagan or secular society, who celebrate the day feasting with excesses and jubilation with huge firecracker displays all over the world, and our part, the Christian manner, which has to be focused on liturgical Mass celebration, fasting and prayer. The secular features of the beginning of the New Year must not interfere with our religious observance, which should have the sacred character of a Holy Day.
Today’s “Octabas Domini”, prohibits the faithful from idolatry and the profanities of the season, and we must focus on the purification of Mary and our own purification as well. It is to be noted also that the Blessed Virgin Mary was not forgotten in the festivities of the holy season, the Mass being in her honor as well. That is why in our Collect prayer, it says, “O God, Who by the fruitful virginity of blessed Mary hast bestowed upon the human race the rewards of eternal salvation: grant we beseech Thee, that we may experience the intercession of her, through whom we have been made worthy to receive the author of life.” Deus, qui salutis aeternae, beatae Mariae virginitati fecunda, humano generi praemia paraestitisti: tribue, quaesumus; ut ipsam pro nobis intercederé sentiamus, per quam meruimus acutorem vitae suscipere.”
Today, this feast bears the title “In Circumcisione Domini et Octave, Nativitatis”. The prayers have special reference to the Blessed Virgin, for we entrust ourselves to the maternal protection of our Mother as we bring in the new year.
What is this feast of the Circumcision? The gospel today taken from St. Luke 2:21 narrates to us that Christ fulfilled the law and, to show His descent according to the flesh from Abraham, He, though not bound by the law, was circumcised on the eighth day and received the sublime name expressive of His office, Jesus, i.e. Savior. Jesus was, as St. Paul says, “made under the law”, i.e. He submitted to the Mosaic Dispensation, “that He might redeem them who were under the law: that we might receive the adoption of sons” (Galatians 4:4-5). “The Christ, in order to fulfill all justice, was required to endure this humiliation, and bear in His body the stigma of the sins which He had taken upon Himself.” In our first Epistle today from the Book of Titus, he writes, “Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity and might cleanse to Himself people acceptable, a pursuer of good works.”
This first day, we will sing the “Veni Creator Spiritus” to implore the aid of the Holy Spirit for our own sanctification and receiving of a Plenary Indulgence. It is a special type of indulgence that, if all the requirements are met, removes all temporal punishment due to one’s sins. The church uses the power of the keys given to St. Peter by Jesus in Scripture (Matthew 16:18) to remove temporal consequences that still remain from sins committed. Even if we have been forgiven of a particular sin, we still experience the consequences of that sin in our lives. To obtain an indulgence, three things are needed: Go to confession, receive Holy Communion and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.
Luke records the event, “As the baby received His name, + IN NOMINE IESU + Jesus,” and with it His mission to save us from our sins, He was, by circumcision, shedding His blood to fulfill the Law, the first time that He shed His blood for us. He submits to His own Law and His blood flows for the sins of the world for the first time.
The God of Abraham has kept the Covenant for you in Himself. He transferred this to you in the waters of Holy Baptism, where, by Grace, you received His Name, and all that goes with the Sacrament of Baptism. For Baptism is a bath that washed us not only once when we received it—washed pure with Christ’s blood—but it continually washes us clean, even daily, for as long as we hold it in faith and good works.
We will finally come into the joy of our Lord to celebrate a new year, a year of praise, prayer and faithfulness. IN NOMINE IESU, it is inscribed upon our foreheads and our hearts. It is the Name of Jesus, who saves us. He is our God. We are His people, and this, by Divine proclamation, by His Grace, is forever. Today we look forward to the future, the “will” of God to be fulfilled with God’s blessing of “Salvation” for all of us on this holy day.
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let His face shine upon you and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace! (Numbers 6:22-27)
Let us bless each other with the same tenderness God shows us.
Fr. Arlon, osa
