Homily for New Year 2006

January the first is many things: New Year's Day, the Octave of Christmas, Day for Peace, Feast of Mary Mother of God.

As the Octave of Christmas it is a continuation of the celebration of Christmas and the Incarnation. Secondly, we remember the circumcision of Jesus on the eighth day after his birth as was the custom. This is also the occasion for giving of his name 'Jesus'. And in our time the Popes have made it an occasion for a message of peace to the world as we begin the new year.

There were no teenagers in Jesus day. Nor in most traditional societies. As soon as a girl reached puberty around 12 or 13 years she was betrothed in marriage. She continued to live in her father's home but was considered given in marriage. Then she was taken to the bride groom's house later on. So this young girl Mary became the mother of Jesus. She is honoured today under the title of “Mother of God”. That title, of course, is a metaphor. The eternal God does not have a mother as such. She is called Mother of God because she is the mother of Jesus who is called Son of God.

This young girl “treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart”. It is all the more remarkable then, that not knowing what in involved Mary was able to bring Christ to the world.

St Ambrose said of it: “Let Mary's soul be in each of you to proclaim the greatness of the Lord. Let her spirit be in each to rejoice in the Lord. Christ has only one mother in the flesh, but we all bring forth Christ in faith” (Liturgy of the Hours for Dec 21).

Aside from the fact that Epiphany—which comes twelve days after Christmas—used to mark the end of the Christmas Season, the “Twelve Days of Christmas” are not really any part of Catholic liturgy. The song of that name, it is said, actually derives from a time in England from 1558 to 1829 when it was illegal to be a Catholic. The song contains a hidden catechism of Catholic theology for Catholics in hiding.

A Partridge in a Pear Tree: Jesus Christ.

Two Turtle Doves: The Old and New Testaments.

Three French Hens: The Theological Virtues (Faith, Hope, and Charity).

Four Calling Birds: The Four Gospels / The Four Evangelists.

Five Golden Rings: The first Five Books of the Old Testament, the “Pentateuch”.

Six Geese a-Laying: The Six Days of Creation.

Seven Swans a-Swimming: The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit / The Seven Sacraments.

Eight Maids a-Milking: The Eight Beatitudes.

Nine Ladies Dancing: The Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Ten Lords a-Leaping: The Ten Commandments.

Eleven Pipers Piping: The Eleven Faithful Apostles.

Twelve Drummers Drumming: The Twelve Points of Doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed.

And who is my “true love” who gives all this to me? God.

The English word 'creed' comes from the Latin 'credo' which in turn comes from two words; 'cor' meaning heart, and 'dare', to give. In other words to say the creed is to give one's heart to what God is doing for us. We are not just giving assent to things inspite of our lack of understanding of them. The Christmas Season celebrates that second part of the creed which in a few words describes the incarnation. It describes what God is doing for us. God's Gift to us. The Eucharist is our response to that just as Mary did blessing God saying, “My soul magnifies the Lord...”

Let us wish each other a Happy New Year! But let is be as a blessing as Moses gave to Aaron in the first reading. Christmas is a time of new beginnings. The secular New Year can still be a fitting time like Mary to bless God for the Saviour born to us.

Fr Graham