Homily for January 1

Homily for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
(Scriptures for today's Mass)

Audio for homily

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!

Bless us and keep us, Lord, all of us,

   but a special blessing we pray on the poor and the homeless

      who struggle in the shadows of our bounty and excesses:

   open our hearts in this new year 

      to give more generously than ever before,

      to give until we know, too, what it is to go without,

      to give until our giving makes a difference for the poor

         and in our own lives as well...

Bless us and keep us, Lord, all of us,

   but a special blessing we pray upon nations at war:

      move the hearts and minds of those who govern and rule

         until the thirst for power is quenched by a thirst for peace;

   keep in your care the poor who so often stand in harm's way,

      the innocent victims, the ones who suffer the savagery of battles

         in which they take no part;

   bring back all those who protect and defend us

      and restore them to their families, their homeland and peace...

Bless us and keep us, Lord, all of us,

   but a special blessing we pray upon the sick and the dying,

      upon the chronically and incurably ill:

   through the care of others and the help of medicine ease their pain;

   let their faith be their strength and your presence their hope;

   with compassion and mercy bless the sick 

      and their families and friends who suffer with them;

   bring your healing to their spirits if not to their bodies

      and your peace to all who stand by their side...

Bless us and keep us, Lord, all of us,

   but a special blessing we pray upon the Church:

      keep us faithful to your Word and your wisdom;

      keep us faithful to the gospel's truth and mission;

      keep us faithful in forgiving one another 

         as you have forgiven us...

Send your Spirit to enlighten and enliven the Church,

   to lead us and guide us where you'd have us go,

      to urge us to do what you call us to do, 

         to keep and to change as your will would have it...

Draw us closer to Jesus and open our hearts

   to his presence, his voice, his word and his way...

Make us truly contrite for the ways we have failed

   and give us the grace to confess all our sins...

Let your merciful pardon be a sign to the world

   that you live in our midst and your love is for all... 

Let your face shine upon us, Lord,

   when we walk in the dark, in the shadow of death;

Let your face shine upon us, Lord,

   when we lose our way and look for your light;

Let your face shine upon us, Lord

   when our worries and fears cloud our hope and our trust;

Let your face shine upon us, Lord,

   when we shut out the light and hide in our pain;

Let your face shine upon us, Lord,

   when so many problems darken our path to your heart;

Let your face shine upon us, Lord,

   when a river of grief  overflows in our tears;

Let your face shine upon us, Lord,

   as sunrise each day, ever faithful, abiding and guiding our way;

Let your face shine upon us, Lord,

   and be gracious to us...

Look kindly upon us and give us your peace:

   let your kindness be ours, Lord, to bind up our wounds;

   let your kindness be ours, Lord, to share all around;

   let your kindness be ours, Lord, in good times and bad;

   let your kindness be ours, Lord, and give us your peace...  

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!

Please pray with me:

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. 
Blessed art thou amongst women 
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. 
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, 
now and at the hour of our death. 
Amen. 



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