Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

01-01-2023Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

Happy New Year! Jesus. Like all other years, this year I offer to You, Jesus – at all times and all people, everything belongs to you, Lord. You are the Alpha and the Omega who defies chronology. You are the beginning and the end - YOU are, period! Yesterday, today, and forever. Let us face the New Year 2023 with confidence and trust in God and with a firm resolve to listen more about what God wants and expects of us. In the midst of all the noise and haste, let us take time to listen and be obedient to His Divine Will and Plan.

Every year, the seed of hope; planted in our hearts sprouts and grows to produce resolutions and renewed confidence. The year that we await is here – the tomorrow that will be better has arrived. Lord, be with us; with you, the best is yet to come. As for myself, I am a year older and a year wiser, hopefully, a year more experienced in the priesthood. If I learned at least one thing a day, then; I should be 365 times more knowledgeable today than last year. Thank you, Jesus, for teaching me to walk in the mystery of the tomorrow of my life.

In the Gospel (Lk. 2, 16-21), we see how Mama Mary kept her focus - on the Baby Jesus and not on the circumstances surrounding His birth. Neither poverty of the place of the Nativity nor worldly honor disturbed her peace; and her mission. She focused simply on doing what God wanted, the Will of the Father. Mama Mary did not need worldly applause and recognition. Let us imitate our mother and remember that true affirmation is what God says and thinks about us.

Again, the first day of the year is the Feast of Mary, Mother of God. Mama Mary will be with us every single day of the New Year. She is a MOTHER who will always be with us. It seems fitting to begin the New Year with a reflection about Mama Mary, the Patroness of the Holy Mother Church. Among Mary’s qualities is her ability to treasure things in her HEART, which we must learn to also treasure in our hearts: 1.) Do not worry, be happy. Can any of you, by worrying, add a single moment to your life span? (Mt. 6:27) 2.) When we have given our whole hearts, anything asked of us; whatsoever is nothing. When we look at Jesus on the cross, be reminded of Him who gave His whole Sacred Heat to us; whatever I ask of Him, mercy and compassion are nothing.

Be still and know that I am God (Ps. 46: 10). Let us listen to the Lord as we face the New Year, assured that He is in perfect control of everything and everyone. Let us trust Him more and worry less. All will be well as long as people pray and bend their knees to Someone greater than you and me. Let us learn to love silence and stillness.

Happy New Year, everyone! May 2023 be a better year for all of us, in all aspects, in Jesus’ name.