All Blessings through Mary, Mother of God- Jan 01 – Homily – Fr John Lawrence

 

Fr John Lawrence gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Jan 01, 2024, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, on how the blessings of the New Year, emphasize how every blessing comes from Christ and through Mary, especially peace.

Father cites Elizabeth's words from Luke 1:42, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb," to highlight Mary's role in bringing blessings to humanity. The homily also references God's promise to Abraham in Genesis 22:18, where God says, "In your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed," signifying Jesus as the fulfillment of this promise.

He discusses peace, drawing from Saint Augustine's definition of peace, and connects it to Isaiah 32:17, "the effect of righteousness will be peace," emphasizing that righteousness and observance of God's law bring peace. Isaiah 48:18 is also cited, expressing regret for unheeded commandments, "O that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river..."

The homily addresses sin as the major disruptor of peace, mentioning Mother Teresa's view of abortion as a significant peace destroyer. It then connects to Our Lady of Fatima's message that wars are punishments for sins.

Highlighting the necessity of grace for overcoming sin, the homily references Luke 2:14, where angels proclaim, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those with whom he is pleased." It emphasizes Christ as our peace, aligning with Micah's prophecy in Micah 5:5, "He shall be their peace," and St. Paul's echo in Ephesians 2:14.

The role of Mary in redemption is underlined through Galatians 4:4-5, "When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman..." He concludes by discussing Jesus' circumcision as the beginning of his sacrificial journey, linking to Hebrews 9:22, "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins," and Isaiah 53:5, "upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."

Ave Maria!

Mass: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God - Solemnity - http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4967
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/010124.cfm
1st: num 6:22-27
Resp: psa 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
2nd: gal 4:4-7
Gsp: luk 2:16-21

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1009

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