1st January - Solemnity of the Mother of God

As I reflected today on the idea of New Year’s Day, what came to me was an image of a DOOR – something similar to a door opening into a beautiful Castle or an old Country Home or the magnificent Concert Hall in Vienna where the Concert was held this morning viewed on T.V. – a world of wonder, beauty and art at its best.

So starting a New Year is something like that today and in the days ahead. We are opening a door on a whole new world – a world of joys and sorrows, surprises, and disappointments etc.

In the bigger world out there, there are huge Financial problems like the Fiscal Cliff the United States is facing at the moment – here at home in Ireland the aftermath of the Austerity Budget, new taxes, house tax, water tax, car tax increase and insurance also, cuts in children’s allowance and in Carer’s allowance, etc. All very real and very difficult for many or most families. So with all these pre-occupations, it is important that we look at the very deepest part of ourselves as we move into the unknown space of this New Year of 2013.

As I said above, the image that came to me was the door and I thought of that famous and most beautiful picture of Holman Hunt’s' painting of “The Light of the World”. It is the ideal picture to view at the beginning of the year – the time when we are called and invited to open our door, and step forward into a new meeting with Christ.

When this picture was first shown to the public, the Artist’s attention was drawn to a serious flaw. There was no handle on the door. This was very deliberate because it represented the reality. The door is the door of the human heart and there is no handle on the outside. Jesus cannot enter unless I open the door and invite Him in. “I stand at the door and knock and if anyone opens the door I will come in and sit down and share his meal” (Rev.3:20).

The Feast we celebrate today – Mary, the Mother of God, is a great example and model for all of us to open up to the Lord and let Him in. As St. Bernard so beautifully put it in a homily – “Open, O Blessed Virgin, your heart to faith – open your lips to speak – open your bosom to your Maker – Behold the desired of all nations is outside knocking at your Door” and Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your word”. If only I, and indeed all of us, could imitate Mary and say the same and live it for the coming year.

Because Mary said ‘Yes’ we now have Jesus with us, among us, one of us, as God made man. He is in us at all times to help us each day of 2013, if only we call on Him.

The beautiful lines of Louise Haskins, which many of us are familiar with, says this more beautifully than ever I could:

And I said to the man

who stood at the gate of the year

“Give me a light

that I may tread safely

into the unknown”

And he replied,

“Go out into the darkness and

put your hand into the hand of God.

That will be to you better than light,

And safer than a known way”.

So I went forth

and found the hand of God,

and trod gladly into the light.

He led me toward the hills

And the breaking of the day

in the East.

So heart, be still!

What need our life to know

If God hath comprehension?

In all the dizzy strife of things

both high and low,

God hideth his intention.

We ask Mary, our Mother in one of the Collects for today’s Feast to intercede for us:

Father, source of light in every age,
the virgin conceived and bore your Son
who is called Wonderful God, Prince of peace.
May her prayer, the gift of a mother’s love,
be your people’s joy through all ages.
May her response, born of a humble heart,
draw your Spirit to rest on your people.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.