A New Presentation for Sunday's Liturgy

Blessed Mary, mother of God!
(January 1, 2004 - Mary, Mother of God)

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This presentation is originally prepared in Spanish by Fr. Cristo Rey García Paredes, cmf. The original version,along with other very useful materials for pastoral agents and Christians in general can be found at: http://ciudadredonda.org

January 1, 2004 - Thursday, New Year
The Octave Day of Christmas
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

A. Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
B. A Blessed Year
C. World Day of Peace

Readings:
Num 6:22-27; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21

Commentaries / Gospel Reflections from:
Sunday's Into Silence: 1 or 2 • Diario Biblico • Daily Gospel

I. MARY, MOTHER OF GOD: INTRODUCTORY RITES

Greeting (See Second Reading)

God sent his Son, born of a woman,
to enable us to become God's children.
Through the Spirit of the Son
we can cry out to God:
"Father, my Father!"
May this Son, Jesus, be with you always. R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant

A new year of grace lies before us. It is a precious gift from God, to be used well. Who, after Jesus, can show us the way better than his Mother, who gave us Jesus? We honor her today as the Mother of God. Look at her faith, her trust, her YES, her total service of her Son, how she gave her Son to people. If during this year we could only imitate her a bit, it would indeed be a year of grace. With Mary's help let us bring before the Lord our good wishes for one another.

Penitential Act

We have missed many chances, left much good undone,
hurt one another and offended the Lord.
We ask God to forgive us and to help us do better.
            (PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, yours are the ages
and every living day you give us.
Go with us, bless us:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Jesus Christ, beloved Son of the Father,
make us live as sons and daughters of God.
Go with us, bless us:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

Lord Jesus, Son of Mary,
make us treasure all your gifts, like Mary.
Go with us, bless us:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

God of mercy, be kind to us
and forgive us all our sins.
May we always say our YES to you.
Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray to our mighty God
who chose Mary as the mother of his Son
            (PAUSE)
Our faithful and saving God,
in Mary our earth said its YES to your call
and there burst forth upon humanity
forgiveness and blessing and new life
in the person of your Son Jesus Christ.
Give us Mary's trusting faith,
that we may always be close to Jesus
even in the darkness of suffering
and that we may take him
to the poor and the lonely of our world.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

II. A BLESSED NEW YEAR: INTRODUCTORY RITES

Greeting

All praise and blessing to the Lord God
who gives us a new year of grace.
Today and every day of this year
may the blessing of the Lord's grace and peace
be always with you. R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant

Today, as we celebrate Mary, the Mother of God, the Lord God gives us a new year of grace. A new year is by itself a blessing from God: new chances, new occasions to do good, new opportunities to serve and love God, new possibilities to make up to those dear to us for past neglect and indifference, new prospects to make friends and to serve people. It is good that we begin the year with Mary, the perfect servant and the woman of faith. With her and with the help of her prayers, God is very willing to bless us and to help us make this year beautiful and good.

Penitential Act

Let us seek the Lord's forgiveness
for our past shortcomings and failures
and look forward to his unfailing help.
            (PAUSE)
Lord Jesus, son of Mary,
be gracious and bless us this year:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior,
bring us the peace of your pardon:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, let your face light up our lives;
be our companion on the road of life this year:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Lord, show us your mercy:
be near to us and bless us.
Lead us to the joys of everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer

With the help of Mary, the Mother of God,
let us ask for God's blessing
            (PAUSE)
Our living and loving God,
to you belong all the ages.
For each of us you want this year to be
a time of grace.
Bless us, that, like Mary,
the blessed among all women,
we may say YES to you and to your plans
for us and for the world.

Like Mary, may we grow closer to you
and give your Son Jesus to the world,
that those who seek may find in him
your truth, your justice and your love.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

III. PEACE IN OUR WORLD: INTRODUCTORY RITES

Greeting (2 Thess 3:16)

May the Lord of peace himself
give you peace all the time and in every way.
The Lord be with you all. R/ And also with you.

Introduction by the Celebrant

A new year begins today and we wish one another God's blessing, good health and happiness. On the day we celebrate the feast of Mary, the Mother of God, let us also include very earnestly and urgently wishes and prayers for deep and lasting peace for a world beset with violence and war, for Mary gave us Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Let our sense of justice and unity, of mutual forgiveness and acceptance create the atmosphere in which peace can grow in our hearts, in our homes, in our world.

Penitential Act

Let us seek from God and from one another
the peace of forgiveness and reconciliation,
that we may share more deeply in the eucharist,
which unites us in Christ.
            (PAUSE)
In our homes and in our communities
we have not always spread joy and peace.
Forgive us, Lord:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

We give little encouragement and support
to those who fight without violence
for peace and justice.
Forgive us, Lord:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.

We have failed to speak words
of forgiveness and peace.
Forgive us, Lord:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord,
and forgive us all our sins.
Renew our hearts and minds,
fill us with your Spirit of peace
and lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.

Opening Prayer

Let us pray that this new year
may bring peace to all
            (PAUSE)
God our Father.
You chose the Blessed Virgin Mary
as the mother of Jesus your Son.
She gave birth to the Prince of Peace.
With the help of her prayers
sow the seeds of peace in our hearts,
that we may build peace
by seeking justice and serving one another.
Give us the peace of your kingdom
through Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.

Scripture Readings

First Reading Introduction: God Blesses His People
God blessed the people with whom he had made a covenant: he was to them the source of all blessings. May his blessings and grace come down on us, his people, this whole year long.

First Reading: Num 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."

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

R. (2a) 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 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.

Second Reading Introduction: Sons and Daughters of God through Mary's Son
God has given us his Son Jesus through the Virgin Mary. Through God's Son we have become the sons and daughters of God.

Second Reading: Gal 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.

Gospel Introduction: They Found Mary and the Child
The shepherds saw Jesus and accepted him in faith. They praised God and could not keep silent about what they had seen. Mary treasured these events in her heart.

Gospel Reading: Lk 2:16-21

The shepherds came hurriedly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby lying in the manger. On seeing this they related what they had been told about the child, and all were astonished on hearing the shepherds.

As for Mary, she treasured all these messages and continually pondered over them.

The shepherds then returned giving glory and praise to God for all they had heard and seen, just as the angels had told them.
On the eighth day the circumcision of the baby had to be performed; he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Commentary

WELCOME TO 2004! It's good to walk with you again. You may not know me, but we traveled together through 1997 and 2000, and part of some earlier year. I'm from rather far away (Ireland); but distance means little nowadays, and it means nothing at all in the household of the Faith.

We begin this new year, as always, in the company of Mary, whose title, "Mother of God", affirms equally the humanity and the divinity of Christ.

Who else is with us? Shepherds, a carpenter, a baby put to sleep in an animal's feeding trough. It's a humble beginning. There are no world leaders, no ambassadors, no retinue. There is no palace, nor ceremony, nor fancy dress. There is no cheering crowd, no press, no brass band. There are no scholars to analyze its meaning, no historians to tell us it all happened before, no observers to say it could happen again. But far away and out of earshot of the powerful and the wise there is a rumor of angels. Only the shepherds, the simple of heart, can hear it. Each daily gospel reading in this book beckons us to follow.

General Intercessions

With the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary, let us call upon the Lord to pour out his blessings on all God's children and on the world. Let us say: R/ Lord, bless us and keep us.

- Lord, pour out your blessings on the Church, that all the people of God may grow in faith and hope and that there may be unity and cooperation between the leaders and the laity, we pray: R/ Lord, bless us and keep us.

- Lord, bless all priests and religious, that they may live the gospel and proclaim it, that their hearts may be open to everyone and that they may care especially for the last and the least, we pray: R/ Lord, bless us and keep us.

- Lord, bless all fathers and mothers, that they may be faithful and live for one another as you are faithful and tender to them, and that they may reflect your own love on their children, we pray: R/ Lord, bless us and keep us.

- Lord, bless all children and young people, that they may have parents who care and that they may learn at home and in school to become generous and responsible, we pray: R/ Lord, bless us and keep us.

- Lord, bless our country, that justice maybe among us, that there may be jobs for all, access to the wealth of resources in our land, and peace and unity in all our rich diversity, we pray: R/ Lord, bless us and keep us.

- Lord, bless the seekers and doubters, the sick, the orphans and widows, those who are sad, all who have to carry heavy burdens in life. Give them hope, help your people to show them your love, we pray: R/ Lord, bless us and keep us.

Lord, let this year be to all of us a year of grace, of peace and joy, that we may face the future with hope and live in your love now and for ever. R/ Amen.

Prayer over the Gifts

Lord God, loving Father,
in this bread and this wine
we bring before you our offering
of this new year.
Through the prayers of the Mother of God,
give us your Son to be with us
in this eucharistic celebration
and on every day of this year.
As he gives himself to us,
help us to share ourselves with each other
each day that you give us,
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.

Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer

Let us give wholehearted praise and thanks to God our Father for giving us Jesus through the Virgin Mother Mary. May this eucharist bring us his blessing and peace and may it give us Jesus to go with us through life today and every day of the year.

Introduction to the Lord's Prayer

Through the Spirit of Jesus
alive in our hearts,
we pray to our Father in heaven
in the words of Jesus himself: R/ Our Father...

Deliver Us

Lord, deliver us this year
from every evil of sin
and grant us and the whole world
your reliable, lasting peace.
Grant us your understanding love
and your infinite respect for others,
that in justice and goodness
we may prepare for the final coming among us
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...

Invitation to Communion

This is Jesus our Lord,
born of the Virgin Mother Mary.
He comes among us
to be our saving God-with-us
and to grow in us.
Happy are we to be invited
to the table of the Lord. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...

Prayer after Communion

Lord God, loving Father,
you have given us in this eucharist
your Son Jesus as our guide on your way of peace
and Mary, his Mother, as our model of faith.

Let your grace this year
be stronger than our weakness and self-will.
Keep blessing us and let Jesus and Mary inspire us,
that all we say and do may give praise to you
and lead us to the joy you have prepared for us.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.

Blessing

We have received today
as a free gift from the Lord
a new year with all its opportunities.
Perhaps we have made good resolutions.
Let us keep them.
We have asked for and received God's blessings.
Let them come down on you
like rich, refreshing rain on arid soil
and water the life of God in you.
Yes, it is a pleasure for the Lord
to let his abundant blessings pour down on you.
May the almighty and loving God bless you:
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
A happy New Year to all of you!

Go in peace and take the Lord's blessing with you
all the days of your life. R/ Thanks be to God.

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