A New Year for all who Mourn!

 A New Year of Hope for all who Mourn!

We may think of the day when all broke through the peace of freedom and left us asking, “Why?”  The days that followed the Birth of Jesus were not that of  a mobile collection of entertaining crib toys while he laid there with a lot of love from his parents, especially his mother.  It would in fact become a trek of suffering for himself; a rejection from the moment he took his first step beginning in Nazareth.    

Within a short period of time an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you.  Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.”  Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt.  He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”  (Hos 11: 1)  (Mt 2: 13 - 15).  

It is not the best of times for this most Holy Family; a beginning of more than visits from relatives and well-wishers knocking at their door.  As each of us gives praise to the Mother of Christ on January 1st, we must adhere to the doctrine that teaches us; “Mary is truly Mother of God” since she is the eternal mother of God made man, who is God himself.”  (cf CCC 509).

“Mary, the Mother of God” was warned, “when the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.  

“When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.”   “Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.  This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord.  He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took the child into his arms and blessed God, saying:  “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”  The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”  (Lk 2: 22 - 23, 25 - 35).  

Peace?  New Hope?  From the perspective of Mary’s encounter that seems a long way off from bringing these truths to fruition.  However, the peace and hope are now realized as God’s Son, Jesus Christ, has brought about the true meaning of Simeon’s proclamation and Mary, in spite of the pain she would endure from the journey of Egypt to the Cross of Salvation, is the Peace found in the Sacrifice of her only child (son) the offspring of her obedience to the angels words; Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus .  He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”   (Lk 1: 30 - 33).  

A New Year, and a time of Peace as we honor Mary the Mother of humanities search for an answer to be found on Calvary;  all because Mary said:  “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.   May it be done to me according to your word.”  (Lk 1: 38).

Ralph B. Hathaway