HOMILIES

Dear Audience,
For better understanding of the spiritual message behind this homily I kindly remind you to first read and contemplate the biblical texts before reading or listening to my preaching - a human reflection on the Word of God!

The Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God

Jan 1, 2015

8516

Listen Read

First Reading

A reading from the Book of Numbers (6:22-27)

The Lord said to Moses: "Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them: This is how you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them: 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! So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them."

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms of David (67:2-3, 5, 6, 8)

(R) May God bless us in His mercy.

May God have pity on us and bless us; may He let His face shine upon us. So may your way be known upon Earth; among all nations, your salvation. (R)

May the nations be glad and exult because you rule the peoples in equity; you guide the nations on Earth. (R)

May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the people praise you! May God bless us, and may all the ends of the Earth fear Him! (R)

Second Reading

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians (4:4-7)

Brothers and sisters: When the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. As proof that you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir, through God.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Gospel

A reading from the Gospel according to Luke (2:16-21)

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

(P) The Gospel of the Lord.
(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

"The Shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them."

This verse from today's gospel is quite appropriate as we gather to worship God on the first day of the New Year. This day calls to mind our successes and failures, our pain and suffering, our moments of happiness and those of sadness and above all to count our blessings and thank God and be grateful for them.

There is story about a little boy who was invited to dinner at a neighbor's home. When all were seated at table, the food was served. The little boy was surprised that the host began to eat without saying a prayer. He asked the host, "Don't you say a prayer before you eat?" The host was highly embarrassed and said, "No, we don't have time for that." The boy was silent for a while and then said, "You're just like my dog. You start right away."

In fact some dogs even wag their tail to express happiness at seeing their food. But sad to say, some human beings act as if they have nothing to be thankful for. To such people, some would say, "If you have nothing to be thankful for then for sure there is something wrong with you."

Today I would like to share with you three things in my reflection.

Of course in our day to day life most of us usually do thank people who do little things for us. Giving thanks acknowledges a favor or help given. Thanking or being grateful does more than make us and others feel good, it does good for everyone concerned.

First: It can increase our happiness. A study has shown that actually in thanking people we're most grateful to and expressing it in words and actions can enhance our happiness and relationship with others.

Second: It can make others feel appreciated. For instance, when we value what others do they are more likely to do it again, so many other people may benefit from it as well.

Third: It can keep us healthy.

Fourth: It can draw us close to God and bring us peace and joy in our everyday living. Since gratitude has so much impact on our general wellbeing - body, mind and soul - no one could possibly denounce the practice. But how about thanking God? Many people forget to thank God or do not feel the need to do so.
Giving thanks to God always is a mark of a true Christian. Our scriptures are filled with commands to give thanks to God. There is a long list of things we should thank Him for. We are called upon to thank God because "His love endures forever", Psalm (136:3), "He is good", Psalm (118:29), "He has made us worthy to be called His children", Colossians (1:12), "It is the will of God", 1 Thessalonians (5:18), for "His righteous decisions", Psalm (119:62), "It is a good thing to do", Psalm (92:1), for "He has healed us", Luke (17:11-19), for "the gift of His Son Jesus Christ", 2 Corinthians (9:15), for "His creation of the universe", for "His creation of mankind", for "His deliverance and salvation", for "His wondrous works", Psalm (9:1), for "His gracious provisions", for "His Grace and Mercy, and for withholding the punishment which we deserve", for "His blessings and joys of fellowship with Him", for "His revelations through creation and His Word", for "His wondrous works in the lives of others", and for "His future intervention based on His purposes and promises".
Thanksgiving and praise always go together. We cannot adequately praise and worship God without also being thankful. So it is only appropriate that we courageously acknowledge God's goodness and give thanks to Him not only in private but also in the presence of others. We should not feel embarrassed or afraid or ashamed to give thanks to God in public especially for meeting our basic needs such as food and shelter. When we acknowledge and thank God before others we bring great honor and glory to Him. In the Old Testament the prophet Ezra, 1 Chronicles (16:8), called on the people to, "Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon His name and make known His deeds among the people". We read in the gospel of our Lord Jesus himself thanking God the Father many times. For example, Jesus gave thanks for food, Matthew (15:35-37). He gave thanks for answered prayer after raising Lazarus from the dead, John (11:39). He gave thanks at the last supper with his disciples, Luke (22:14-20).

Let us take some time every day to give thanks to God. Especially today we have the opportunity to count our blessings and thank God for the many great things He has done, and for the wonderful things we are about to see and experience in the days to come. Let us humbly acknowledge that all things come from Him as a result of His grace, mercy and love for us. Certainly we all do have many reasons to give thanks. But our thanksgiving to God should go beyond our ordinary sense of thanksgiving. We should thank God not only for what God has done for us but also who God is. We are to give thanks not just because God has done good things but because God is good. Saint Paul, 1 Thessalonians (5:18), encourages us to give thanks in everything, for this is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus. That's to say that we should give thanks to God not only for the things we like, but also for the circumstances we do not like. When we thank God even in our adversities there will be no bitterness in our hearts. We are not giving thanks for suffering or evil per se but rather that in suffering and pain He may give us the grace to endure them and that, all things may happen for good.

As we begin the New Year let me greet each of you with the same words of Moses to Aaron and the people of Israel, Numbers (6:22-27): "May the Lord bless you and keep you! May the Lord let His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! May the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!"

(P) Amen.

Happy New Year!

Content Options

to download the audio file Sign In » or Register ».
generate Google Translate Layout ».
share this homily via:

Top of Page

More Homilies this Month

Use the Prev or Next buttons to read or listen to the other homilies of the month.

« Prev Next » The Epiphany of the Lord