Let us resolve with the Mother of God’s help to make 2011 a year of intense adoration of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

Homily for Luke 2:16-21 Holy Mary, Mother of God January 1st 2011

As we continue our celebration of Christmas, today (this evening) we celebrate the Feast of Mary, the Mother of God. At the stable of Bethlehem, we turn our eyes slightly from the infant child Jesus to the one who is holding Him in her arms, His mother Mary. She is the Mother who reveals to us not only the face of Her divine infant, but His Divine Heart and so His Divine Love for each of us.

The Blessed Virgin has been at the heart of the mysteries of Christmas from the beginning of Advent. God chose her from the beginning to be the one who would bear His only begotten Son which was announced at the coming of an angel: Angelus Domini nuntiavit Marie! Et concepit de Spiritu Sancto! The Angel of the Lord Declared unto Mary and she conceived of the Holy Spirit.

Now, at the stable in Bethlehem, we join the Blessed Mother in the contemplation of the mystery of God incarnate; Et Verbum caro factum est! Et habitavit in nobis! And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us! We read, “All who heard it were amazed” and “Mary kept all these things, keeping them in her heart.”

This indeed is the true Christmas spirit- our eyes of faith fixed in amazement at the mystery of the Mother holding the Infant child Christ-the mystery of a Mother holding the very God who created her. Like small children, we are awe struck, as it were, caught up in the love that the invisible God has for us and now so wonderfully has made visible to us to in the little Christ Child.

The Mother of God will assist us in our prayer of adoration if we ask her. She offers us her example of deep adoration, as she is the one wholly given to God. She is mother to us, always praying and helping us to be joined more fully to Her Son. She desires us to be the bearers of Christ as she was- that our hearts might be the dwelling place for Jesus, just like the stable in Bethlehem. So we too might lead the little ones to the Child.

So as we continue this Christmas season and begin a new year, let us stay close to the Blessed Mother. May she obtain for us all the graces we need and desire in order that we can offer our hearts fully to the baby Jesus, the God who still dwells among us in the Holy Eucharist. Let us resolve with the Mother of God’s help to make 2011 a year of intense adoration of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

Ora pro nobis, sancta Dei Genitrix. Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi. Pray for us O Holy Mother of God, that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ! Amen.

Happy New Year and God Bless you!