On the first day of each new year, on the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, we are called to reflect on Jesus as the Prince of Peace, because Jan. 1 is also the World Day of Peace.
We pray for peace for the world in a special way on this day, through the intercession of Mary, Queen of Peace, because sadly we continue to experience the horror of war and the ongoing fear of terrorism. Our world is torn by conflict and widespread dissension.
We hope that this new year brings resolution to the conflicts between nations and an end to the use of violence in solving problems among the peoples of the world.
“The church, Pope John Paul II said some time ago, has always taught and continues today to teach a very simple axiom: peace is possible. Indeed, the church does not tire of repeating that peace is a duty. It must be built on the four pillars indicated by Blessed John XXIII in his encyclical Pacem in Terris: truth, justice, love and freedom. A duty is thus imposed upon all those who love peace: that of teaching these ideals to new generations, in order to prepare a better future for all mankind.” (Pope John Paul II, 1/1/04)
We begin the new year with hope and optimism. Looking forward to the many graces that God will grant to all of us throughout this year. Our prayer is filled with the conviction that God is with us and he wants peace for us.
We cannot forget that Jesus came to bring peace to the world and that we are children of God, but for that to happen we need to open our hearts to the grace of God and freely accept him in our lives. God wants us to exercise our freedom and say “yes” to him. During the Christmas season that we just celebrated we contemplated a clear example of people saying “yes” to God’s will for them.
Mary, our Blessed Mother, was asked to be the mother of Jesus, perfect God and perfect man, and she said “yes.” St. Joseph was asked to be Jesus’ foster-father and he said “yes.”
The shepherds also listened and received the “good news” coming from the angel and went in haste to Bethlehem. Finally we also had the example of the wise men who saw the star and traveled all the way to Judea to adore the “new born” and bring him their gifts.
It is fitting then, as we begin the new year, that we especially seek the help of our mother, Mary, to say “yes” to God, to look for him in our daily life and to be mindful of the needs of the church. As one who is the model of discipleship for all of us, Mary reminds us over and over again of our calling to holiness in the Lord.
As we know, Mary’s life is oriented toward Jesus. We can say that the meaning of her life is Jesus: She had faith. She believed and committed herself to follow Jesus Christ. Then, Mary, our Blessed Mother, is our mother and she is also a model for us. She takes care of our needs and she takes us to Jesus, her divine son.
Devotion to Mary, our Blessed Mother, must help us to start the new year with a new desire to be aware of the love of God for us and she will also intercede for us, that God will give us the strength to correspond with more generosity, practicing charity with others, to be people of peace.
Pope Benedict XVI has asked us to continue helping one another in these difficult economic times: “I would encourage everyone to pursue the commitment to alleviate the difficulties many families still experience due to the economic crisis and unemployment.” (Pope Benedict XVI, 12/31/09) This too brings peace to the hearts of those who are under great stress.
But we know that peace — it is not easy. It is not easy, but it is possible, especially if we count on the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary.
Then, our resolution today is prayer for peace, to keep trying to learn how to love God and others in a real way, and devotion to Mary, the Mother of God and our mother.
May Mary, Queen of Peace, intercede for us that Jesus, Prince of Peace, will grant each one of us and our families real and lasting peace for our country and for the whole world at the beginning of the second decade of the 21st century.
Adapted from the homily given at San Fernando Cathedral on Jan. 1, 2010.