Scripture Readings: Numbers 6: 22-27 Galatians 4: 4-7 Luke 2: 16-21
On this Feast of Mary the Mother of God – our readings today do not even acknowledge the fact that it is New Years!
But today’s First Reading from Numbers could not be better chosen for such an occasion: “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!”
Today’s Feast of Mary, the Mother of God is a reminder that Mary was more than the woman chosen by God for the birth of his Son. Rather, Mary was an ACTIVE participant in the unfolding of salvation.
Mary was the first to believe in Jesus, Mary was the first to follow him. Mary was not only the mother of Jesus, but a disciple of Jesus.
Mary is an ever present reminder to us of what it means to follow and to believe in her son, Jesus.
Maybe as we begin this New Year, we the people of St. Mary’s, Crescent might continue to keep in mind that the example of Mary is a worthy one to follow each day.
Because of the faith, Mary, she brought Jesus into the World. Now it is our time to do the same, as person, family & parish.
We bring the Jesus into the world by the kindness we show to those in need, and in so doing, we are making it known that Jesus still walks among us in the person of believers.
We bring the Jesus into the world by bringing food to the hungry, and in so doing, we make it known that God continues to feed his people.
We bring the Jesus into the world by standing with those who weep, mourn, and suffer, and it so doing, we make it known that Christ is always by their side.
I would say that following the example of Mary is, in the end, a call to discipleship. Discipleship is not being a volunteer. Discipleship is a commitment to bring to life the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people we encounter each day: at home, in the community, in the parish, and beyond.
May the blessing from the Book of Numbers be for us not only a continuing reminder of how God and others bless us and watch over us daily, but a reminder of how God is asking us to be a blessing to others in the year to come.
“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!”