Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (2024)

One of the standard depictions of the year’s passing is a cartoon of the old year meeting the new one. The old year is often presented as a haggard Father Time with long flowing hair and beard, stooped shouldered, and carrying a reaping hook. The New Year is depicted as a plump, bouncing baby full of hope and energy.

This year, the drawings might be just a little different. Considering the outlook for the coming year, that bouncing baby might be a little less rambunctious. It might already have circles under its eyes from worry and sleeplessness. The New Year might appear to be just a little less excited about the prospects for 2024.

Given the state of the challenges to world peace, a contentious presidential election in the works, and so many other uncertainties the New Year might be just a little less excited about coming around this time. The challenges of the near future might make the New Year a little worried.

Today and throughout the Christmas Season, the gospels have told us of the many challenging events Mary, the mother of God, faced as she brought the Christ child into the world. Several times in his gospel, Luke reports momentous events in Mary’s and the Holy Family’s lives. Luke tells us that each time Mary encountered a significant event, she reflected on it and treasured it in her heart. Mary kept all the joyful, tragic, and troubling events her family experienced in her heart. Mary reflected and knew even the unhappy events of her life had value. Even if Mary could not understand them when they were happening, they were events in which she recognized God was active. They were events that Mary believed, sometime in the future, she would understand more clearly. In good time, Mary thought she would recognize how God was with her, supporting her and the ones she loved.

The Israelites had similar experiences as they wandered in the desert before God finally allowed them to enter the Promised Land. Their wandering was a challenging time. Famine, drought, and attacks from their enemies have tested them. But they also experienced God’s care and favor when they most needed it. They have been, at times, unfaithful to God. Now, as they pause before entering the land, they realize that God has faithfully accompanied them through it all despite their unfaithfulness.

In today’s reading from the Book of Numbers, the Israelites are preparing to take possession of the Promised Land. Entering the Promised Land will have a whole new set of challenges. They will face off against a new set of trials and obstacles. They will be opposed by those who presently occupy the land, and the people will have to fight for their land.

In the face of their challenges, the Lord instructs Moses to tell Aaron and his sons to pray over the people to remind them that God is caring for them. God tells Moses they are to say:

“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.”

As we face uncertain times at the beginning of a new year, we must also recognize we can trust God. Like Mary and the Israelites, we need to ponder the events of our lives, both good and bad, and see that they are part of God’s plan for us. Like the Israelites, looking forward to a promising future but also being realistic about the obstacles we must overcome, we recall the prayer of Moses over the people.

We pray God will keep us in God’s care. God never forgets nor neglects us, but we sometimes need reminding of God’s care for us. In the joys and troubles of this coming year, pray that you always remain aware of God’s watchfulness and concern for you and all those you love. May God smile on you. May God see your goodness and your faithfulness. May you always live your life during 2024 in such a way as to be faithful to God.

Most importantly, may you and those you love be receptive to God’s peace. It is a peace that is more than freedom from war. The peace of God is a sense of trust and hope. God’s peace is the knowledge that we are not in control as individuals, but God is in control, and we do not have to be concerned if we place our faith and trust in God.

The year ahead will have many different experiences for all of us. It will have many joys and, indeed, some sadness. Today, we pray that regardless of those events, we will recognize them as God events. Opportunities where, like Mary, we can cherish them, keep them, and reflect on them in our hearts. Pray that whatever the new year brings us, we will see and feel God present in every event of this new year.