January 1, 2021

Solemnity of Mary [New Year’s Day 2021)

Accompanied by Mary

Msgr. Thomas Gervasio

 

Happy New Year! I doubt very much that anyone will miss 2020, and so we come with high hopes for a brighter and better new year. We begin it with Mary, the Mother of God. As having contemplated the great gift and mystery of the Lord’s Incarnation and Nativity, it is only right that we should look to Mary. Afterall, when a child is born in our own families, we are excited to go and see the baby. Relatives, friends, and neighbors gather around the crib and joyfully fuss about the new arrival. But at the certain point we leave the baby in peace [at least for a while] and turn toward the new mother to extend our joyful congratulations. This is what the Church does today. going to the manger, our eyes are first fixed on its central figure—the Infant Jesus—but then we cannot help but move our gaze toward his holy Mother.

In Mary we find a mother, recollected, who without a word, treasures all the events of her child’s birth within her heart. It was this silence and recollection that enabled Mary to see and evaluate the events of life. As we begin this new year, let us ask Mary to help us cultivate this interior spirit so that we too might, in communion with God, handle calmly and wisely the events of life that can be so distracting, and hectic. Mary our Mother would have us remember that amid the winds and the waves that toss us about, we need not fear for Jesus is in the boat with us.

Recently, I came across a prayer for the New Year by the late Bishop Tonino Bello, who always preferred the title “Father.” I make his prayer my own for all of us:

Here we are, Lord, before you, out of breath, after so long a journey.
But if we feel tired, it’s not because we’ve come a long way.
It’s because, sadly, we have worn out our feet on our paths and not yours,
stubbornly taking our own way and not the directions of your Word,
trusting in the success our tiresome plans,
and not in the simple plan of trusting in you.
After the past year, we feel that we can make our own the words of Peter:      
“We have toiled all night and have caught nothing.”
In any case, we thank you,
because by making us contemplate the poverty of the harvest,
You help us understand that without you,
We can do nothing. We only get restless.
But there are other reasons Lord, that demand our gratitude.
As we end one year and begin another,
we thank you, Lord for keeping us in your love.
Thank you for not only bearing with us,
but also helping us realize that we are your beloved.
Thank you for not giving up on us
for you do not demean us for our ineptitude.
On the contrary, you place in our souls the desire to change
            which makes us see this new year
as a hopeful and favorable time to heal our troubles.
Strip us of every trace of arrogance.
Clothe us in the garments of mercy and gentleness.
Give us a future of grace and light and love for life.
Help us to spend ourselves for you
and may your Virgin Mother soften our hearts,
even to the point of tears.