January 1, 2017
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The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
1 ta’ Jannar, 2017
Omm Alla, Omm il-Paċi
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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.” This is the Word of the Lord
L-Ewwel Qari
Qari mill-Ktieb tan-Numri 6, 22-27
Il-Mulej kellem ‘il Mose’ u qallu: “Kellem lil Aron u ‘l uliedu u għidilhom : Meta tbierku ‘l- ulied Israel
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.
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R/ May God bless us in his mercy.
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R/ May God bless us in his mercy.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R/ May God bless us in his mercy.
Salm Responsorjali
Salm 66 (67)
Iħenn għalina Alla, u jberikna;
idawwar għal fuqna d-dija ta’
wiċċu!
Biex jingħarfu fuq l-art
triqatek,
fost il-ġnus kollha
s-salvazzjoni tiegħek.
R/ Iħenn għalina Alla, u jberikna.
Jithennew il-ġnus u jgħannu bil-ferħ,
għax trieġi l-popli bis-sewwa,
u l-ġnus fuq l-art inti
tmexxihom.
R/ Iħenn għalina Alla, u jberikna.
Ifaħħruk il-popli o Alla,
ifaħħruk il-popli kollha.
Iberikna Alla, u
tibża minnu
l-art kollha minn
R/ Iħenn għalina Alla, u jberikna.
Reading
II
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. This is the Word of the Lord
It-Tieni Qari
Qari
mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl Appostlu lill-Galaltin 4, 4-7
Ħuti, meta waslet il-milja taż-żmien, Alla bagħat lil Ibnu, imwieled
minn
Gospel
The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem
Evanġelju
Qari
mill-Evanġelju skont San Luqa 2,
16-21
F’dak iż-żmien: ir-rgħajja marru jgħaġġlu, u sabu lil Marija
u lil Ġużeppi, bit-tarbija mimduda f’maxtura. Kif
raw dan, bdew igħarrfu b’kulma kien intqal lilhom dwar dik it-tarbija, u kull min
semgħhom baqa’ mistagħġeb b’dak li qalulhom
ir-rgħajja. Marija, min-naħa tagħha, baqgħet tgħożż f’qalbha dawn il-ħwejjeġ kollha u taħseb fuqhom bejnha u
bejn ruħha.Ir-rgħajja mbagħad reġgħu lura, isebbħu u jfaħħru lil Alla għal kulma kienu raw u semgħu, kif l-anġlu kien qalilhom. Meta wasal it-tmien jum biex lit-tifel jgħmlulu ċ-ċirkonċiżjoni, semmewh Ġesu’, bl-isem li kien
tah l-anġlu qabel ma tnissel fil-ġuf. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
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Commentary by Fr. Thomas
Rosica, CSB
A Feast Rich in Names, Meaning and Mission
Although next Sunday’s gospel centres about the Circumcision and Naming of Jesus, the central
figure in this case is not Him but His mother Mary. Let us consider some of the biblical
foundations for the various meanings attached to the Christian New Year.
In antiquity and in the Scriptures, it is a common belief that the name given
to a person is not just a label but part of the personality of the one who
bears it. The name carries will and power. Jesus of Nazareth was
born in Bethlehem
Eight days after his
birth, Jesus underwent circumcision, the enduring sign of the covenant between
God and the Jewish people [Luke 2:21-24]. The Greek christos translates the Hebrew mashiah, "anointed one"; by
this name Christians confessed their belief that Jesus was the Messiah.
In the New Testament, the name, person and work of God are inseparably linked
to those of Jesus Christ. True disciples of Jesus are to pray in his name
[John 14:13-14]. In John 2:23 believing in the name of Jesus is believing
in him as the Christ, the Son of God [3:18]. The name of Jesus has power
only where there is faith and obedience [Mark 9:38-39]. Believing in the holy
name of Jesus leads to confession of the name [Hebrews 13:15]. Calling on
this name is salvation.
Solemnity of Mary,
Mother of the Lord
"Mary"
comes from the Hebrew "Miriam" whose etymology is probably from the
Egyptian word meaning "beloved". She is the disciple par excellence who introduces us to the
goodness and humanity of God. Mary received and welcomed God's word in
the fullest sense, not knowing how the story would finally end. She did
not always understand that word throughout Jesus' life but she trusted and
constantly recaptured the initial response she had given the angel and
literally "kept it alive", "tossed it around", "pondered
it" in her heart [Lk 2:19]. It was only on a Friday afternoon at Calvary , some 33 years later, that she would experience
the full responsibility of her "yes".
Daughter of Zion
Vatican II gave Mary
a new title and role in the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium #52. For the first time, the Church
officially referred to her as the "Daughter of Zion", a title with a
rich Scriptural foundation. The title evokes the great biblical symbolism
of the Messianic Zion. Mary is mother both of the Messiah and of the new
people of God: the individual person and the whole people being very closely
united, in line with the cultural structures of Israel Israel
Mary’s womanhood is
not in itself a sign of salvation but it is significant for the manner and way
in which salvation happens. There is salvation in no other name but that
of the man Jesus, but through this woman, Mary, we have humanity's assent to
salvation. The Holy Names of Jesus and Mary are joined together in a very
special way.
World Day of Prayer
for Peace
The most recent
"theme" attached to the Christian New Year has been the "World
Day of Prayer for Peace". Christians are invited to begin a New Year
praying for peace. But this action is not limited only to those who
celebrate New Year's on January 1! The Jewish people, in particular, are
deeply united with Christians in praying for peace and making peace. Our
God is peace. Even though we Christians consider God's intervention in
Jesus Christ to be decisive, this intervention did not represent the coming of
the messianic kingdom for our Jewish brothers and sisters.
In contemporary
Christian theology, we have placed a strong emphasis on the "not yet"
dimension of the Christ-event. As we wait together and work together as
Christians and Jews for this messianic kingdom, we must work together
especially in the areas of justice and peace. The Jewish people are
privileged partners with Christians in bringing about this kingdom of justice,
love and peace. The messianic kingdom for both Christians and Jews still
lies ahead. It is not enough for us simply to pray for peace. We
must work for peace, together. That is the work of those who long for the
Messiah's kingdom to fully take hold of our lives and our world.
A time to remember
and give thanks
New Year's is a time
to reminisce about the past and to share hopes for the future. Authentic
religion teaches us a reverence for life and gives us a sense of the holiness
of God's name. When we consider the various meanings attached to Rosh
Hashanah and to the Christian New Year, we see some clear parallels. The
God that Jews and Christians worship does not seek the death of sinners, but
that they may return to Him and live. Both Judaism and Christianity teach
that to destroy a single life is to destroy an entire world and to sustain a
single life is to sustain an entire world.
The Jewish-Christian
God speaks this word to all peoples: 'Seek me and live', and 'Choose
life'. Jews and Christians exist to reveal the holiness of God's name and
God's sovereignty over all creation. In a world filled with so many
voices and things demanding first place, Judaism and Christianity recognize God
as sovereign over all creation. Finally, Jews and Christians yearn for
the day when swords will be turned into plowshares and spears into pruning
hooks.
Rosh Hashanah and
the Christian New Year are excellent opportunities for the celebration of life,
a commitment to uphold its dignity and sacredness, and a plea for its
continuance. They are feasts when we beg to be joined with women and men
of good will everywhere, especially with those who know God as the God of the
Exodus, and those who know God as the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
At the beginning of
this New Year of grace, may the Lord give us an ever deeper sense of the
holiness of the names of Jesus and Mary. May God send us out on mission,
to be instruments and agents of life and peace.
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