Monday, January 1, 2024 SOLEMNITY OF MARY MOTHER OF GOD World Day of Peace (HAPPY NEW YEAR 2024)

Monday, January 1, 2024 SOLEMNITY OF MARY MOTHER OF GOD World Day of Peace (HAPPY NEW YEAR 2024)

THEME OF THE FEAST: Mary, Mother of the Prince of Peace. On the first of January Christians celebrate several festive events. We celebrate, first of all, New Year’s Day; then we think of the circumcision of Jesus which took place, Luke tells us, eight days after his birth (2:21); the day was later on dedicated to Mary Mother of God, and finally in 1968 Pope Paul VI chose January 1st as the “World Day of Peace.” The person in charge of proclaiming the Word should choose just one theme. The themes are: the blessing (1st reading); Mary, model of all mothers (Gospel); peace (1st reading and Gospel); our divine Sonship (2nd reading); wonder and astonishment at the great love of God (Gospel). FIRST READING “They shall put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them...” A reading from the Book of Numbers (Numbers 6:22-27) The Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron and his sons, thus you shall bless the sons of Israel: you shall say to them, The LORD bless you and keep you: The LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace. “So shall they put my name upon the sons of Israel, and I will bless them.” The word of the Lord RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6 and 8 (R.2a) R/. O God, be gracious and bless us O God, be gracious and bless us and let your face shed its light upon us. So will your ways be known upon earth and all nations learn your salvation. R/. Let the nations be glad and shout for joy, with uprightness you rule the peoples; you guide the nations on earth. R/. R/. O God, be gracious and bless us Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. May God still give us his blessing that all the ends of the earth may revere him. R/. SECOND READING “God sent forth his Son, born of a woman.” A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians (Galatians 4: 4-7) Brethren: When the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir. The word of the Lord. ALLELUIA: Hebrews 1: 1-2 Alleluia. In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son. Alleluia. GOSPEL “They found Mary and Joseph, and the baby . . . And at the end of eight days, he was called Jesus.” A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 2: 1 6-21) At that time: The shepherds went with haste to Bethlehem, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. The Gospel of the Lord.