Today’s celebration is actually the confluence of several events. On the secular side, it’s New Year’s Day, a chance to flip the calendar and start over. In the Church, today is the “Octave of Christmas,” the eigth day after Christmas. This marks the end of an intense celebration as though every day were Christmas for the past eight days. With it being eight days since the birth of Jesus, every good Jew would know that today also marks the day of the circumcision of Jesus and the day that he was officially given his name. Today is also the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, and even a day of prayer for world peace.
Today’s homily looks briefly at each of these events that we celebrate today. With so much going on, what better example could we have than Mary who, we are told, “kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” I pray that each of you will find some quiet time to do the same. Happy New Year!