The Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God
From the Desk of Father David
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Blessed Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!
Today, January 1st is the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God. As Jesus was dying, He gave us His mother to be our mother. A mother is one who watches over her children, intercedes for them, nurtures them and at times cries with them. Mary does all these things and more for each of her children. The Blessed Virgin Mary has helped me in so many ways throughout my life. She has interceded for me with her Son and given me the guidance I needed. Always, be willing to approach her, ask for her help and know she will be right there at your side surrounding you with a mother’s love.
This was a unique Christmas because of the snowstorm. Because Christmas is timeless, the Church believes it take eight days to celebrate Christmas Day and then the Christmas Season continues until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. So, whenever you get together to celebrate Christmas it is still Christmas. If stores can celebrate Christmas in July, we can celebrate it whenever we can come together.
St. Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians is the same prayer I pray for you and your loved ones for 2023. “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that He may grant you in accord with the riches of His glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:14-21)
In Christmas peace,
Fr. David
