FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY

Theotokos: My resolution in the New Year

Today's readings celebrate the reality that we, as weak creatures of this earthly pilgrimage, have been abundantly blessed with a divine paternity and an eternal maternity. God the Father models the great and beautiful blessing through Moses: "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!" These three exclamations punctuate the Father's genuine care, concern, grace, protection, affection and glowing love for his obedient children. Although it is difficult for us to fathom following over 600 Mosaic directives, we know to follow the fundamental commandments and precepts in order to maintain our lives in a state of grace and thus be consoled with the Father's ineffable peace as we stay the course for heaven.

St. Paul teaches us that God the Father sent his Son through the womb of a woman so that we might have the opportunity to be fully adopted as His children. In order for this to happen, we must be obedient, strive to follow the divine law, and break the shackles of our attachment to sin. The more we know, love and serve God, the more He will enkindle Jesus in our hearts and invite us to cry out with confidence "Abba, Father!". When He sees that our humble hearts are yearning and burning with agape, He will grace us with His mercy and joy so that we may one day inherit eternal life with Him.

Our adoption would not be complete without the maternal love and guidance of Mary, Our Blessed Mother. We know that she is the divine Mother of every human being, the Mother of the universal Church, and the Mother of Our Lord and Savior: Theotokos. In the Gospel acclamation, we are told that God spoke "through the prophets", and then he spoke "to us through the Son". In more recent history, a time distorted by unrest and the prideful scourge of modernism, God has spoken through the Immaculate Heart of Mary by allowing her to communicate urgent messages and pleas through visionaries and miracles. She once said, "If you knew how much I love you, you'd cry for joy." She invites you to learn from her as you research these visitations in the New Year: Quito, Rue du Bac, La Salette, Lourdes, Fatima, and Akita.

Jesus spoke to Blessed Conchita regarding souls who love Mary:  "In My spiritual life...in souls, My Mother was never separated from Me, that is, the imitation of both of our lives must be simultaneous on earth. The souls who love her most and who are most like her, are the souls who are most perfectly like Me. You must imitate her in the practice of the virtues." 

Resolution in the New Year: a) pray part or all of the Holy Rosary every day, meditating on each mystery within your heart; b) practice the First Friday or First Saturday devotion, nine and five weeks respectively; c) watch your life change as you surrender to your Mother and she brings you ever closer to her Son.

–Chris Engstrom

Send Us Forth are reflections written by St. Matthew parishioners and friends.