Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, January 1, 2010

Readings:
Numbers 6:22-27
Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 2:16-21

Calendar:
January 1: World Day of Prayer for Peace
January 1: Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
January 3: Epiphany of the Lord (in the US)
January 3-9: National Migration Week http://www.usccb.org/mrs/nmw/index.shtml
January 7: Orthodox Christmas
January is Poverty in America Awareness Month www.povertyusa.com

Quotes:

Peace remains possible. And if peace is possible, it is also a duty!
--John Paul II, Message for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace, 2004

If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation.
--Pope Benedict XVI, Message for World Day of Prayer for Peace 2010

The truth of the axiom cannot be refuted: “to fight poverty is to build peace.”
--Pope Benedict XVI, Message for World Day of Prayer for Peace 2009

I invite every man and woman to have a more lively sense of belonging to the one human family, and to strive to make human coexistence increasingly reflect this conviction, which is essential for the establishment of true and lasting peace. I likewise invite believers to implore tirelessly from God the great gift of peace.
--Pope Benedict XVI, Message for World Day of Prayer for Peace 2008

May Mary show us, in her Son, the Way of peace, and enlighten our vision, so that we can recognize Christ's face in the face of every human person, the heart of peace!
--Pope Benedict XVI, Message for World Day of Prayer for Peace 2007

Ring out old shapes of foul disease,
    ring out the narrowing lust of gold,
        ring out the thousand wars of old,
            ring in the thousand years of peace.
                        -Alfred Lord Tennyson

Feeling that morality has nothing to do with the way you use the resources of the world is an idea that can’t persist much longer. If it does, then we won’t.
-- Barbara Kingsolver, Backtalk
 
Thoughts for your consideration:
 
The blessing given in Numbers is something that is meant to be shared with the whole human community. It is a hopeful blessing for the whole world.  It must be all inclusive if it is to have its full power.  Can we make this blessing real in the world?

The birth of a child is a sign of hope – hope not just for the parents and immediate family, but also for the whole community.  The life of Mary of Nazareth is a sign of hope – not just because her faith made her holy, but also because it says something to us all.   Can we bring that hope into our world by our commitment to justice?

The Solemnity of Mary is a sign of hope to the world.  It is a sign that we can give birth to a new vision – the vision of Jesus in the world – a vision of Justice and Peace – a vision of freedom and liberation from oppression – a vision of social change and concern for the common good – a vision of a world without racism and prejudice – a vision of a new economy focused on people and a responsible use of the earth’s resources  –  a vision of a world working together to change human behaviors that are changing our climate –  a vision of a world that respects ethnic and racial diversity – a vision of a world that can move beyond war and terrorism -- a vision of God present in the poor child and the holy young woman of Nazareth – a vision of God to be found in all the people and things of our world and especially among the poor.

In the gospel the shepherds come to see the child in the lying in the manger.  This child is a concrete image of the peace to which God calls us – a peace that contrasts with all the images of power, weaponry, and violence that prevail in our world.

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Pope Benedict’s Message for the World Day for Peace 2010 states very clearly:  “If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation.”

The Holy Father writes: “Can we remain indifferent before the problems associated with such realities as climate change, desertification, the deterioration and loss of productivity in vast agricultural areas, the pollution of rivers and aquifers, the loss of biodiversity, the increase of natural catastrophes and the deforestation of equatorial and tropical regions? Can we disregard the growing phenomenon of “environmental refugees”, people who are forced by the degradation of their natural habitat to forsake it – and often their possessions as well – in order to face the dangers and uncertainties of forced displacement? Can we remain impassive in the face of actual and potential conflicts involving access to natural resources? All these are issues with a profound impact on the exercise of human rights, such as the right to life, food, health and development.”

The blessing given in the Book of Numbers will continue to be made real only if we drop our indifference to the problems listed about and open our eyes of the environmental challenges that lie before us.

Questions for Reflection in your Faith Sharing Group:

• What is your hope or your vision for public life in the new year?
• What is your biggest hope as we work together for peace and justice?
• Pope Benedict writes that human beings have “…. a duty to exercise responsible stewardship over creation, to care for it and to cultivate it.”  How do you experience a call to be responsible and change the way you live in the new year?

Actions – Links:

World Day of Peace: If you want to cultivate peace, protect creation.
Go to http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/peace/documents/... to read the message of Benedict XVI for the World Day of Peace for 1 January 2010. 

Catholic Climate Change Resources
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has published climate resources around Pope Benedict XVI's annual World Day of Peace Message "If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation." Find them at: http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/worlddayofpeacewebsite.shtml
In England and Wales, CAFOD (the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development) has a
Climate Justice Campaign and other resources at http://www.cafod.org.uk/climatejustice

National Migration Week: Renewing Hope, Seeking Justice
Resources for liturgy and other info about National Migration Week (January3-9) can be found at the site of the NCCB/USCC Office for Migration and Refugee Services: http://www.usccb.org/mrs/nmw/index.shtml .   Benedict XVI’s message for the World Day for Migrants and Refugees can be found at:   http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/messages/migration/docume...

Poverty Awareness Month
The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) has designated January as Poverty Awareness Month.  See www.povertyusa.org for details.
 
“Crazy Facts:”

The following can be found in CAFOD’s “Rough Guide to Climate Change and Conflict”
 at http://www.cafod.org.uk/climatejustice .

In 2007 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reported that Southern regions will be among the most adversely affected by climate change, while at the same time having comparatively fewer resources for adaptation. During the 1990s, according to the
World Bank, about 200 million people per year experienced the impact of climate-related environmental disasters in developing countries compared to one million people in rich countries.

In Africa, by 2020, in some countries, yields from rain-fed agriculture could be reduced by up to 50 per cent; agricultural production is likely to be severely reduced and access to food much harder for many people.

In Asia coastal areas, especially heavily populated megadelta regions in south, east and south-east Asia will be at greatest risk due to increased flooding from the sea and, in some megadeltas, flooding from the rivers.

In Latin America: By mid-century, increases in temperature and associated decreases in groundwater are projected to lead to gradual replacement of tropical forest by savanna in eastern Amazonia.

Climate Justice Prayer:
Found at http://www.cafod.org.uk/climatejustice
God of all time,
May we share your anger against injustice,
your compassion for the poor,
your delight in the earth and its people,
And know your power to restore our dashed hopes,
to strengthen our determination
and to inspire us to continue the campaign for climate justice.
Amen.

Prayers of Intercession:

Response: God, in this new year, lead us on the way of peace.
That we may work together to protect the environment in order to build a world of peace, we pray….
That we spend our resources on human needs rather than on preparation for war, we pray…
For an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, we pray…
That effective dialogue replaces the fighting and barriers between Israelis and Palestinians, we pray….
That nations find a way to do away with nuclear weapons and all weapons of mass destruction, we pray….
That there be an end to all violence in our nation, especially gang violence in our cities, we pray….
That there may be an end to all domestic violence in our homes, we pray….
For an end to children growing up in poverty, we pray….

Prayers:

"O God, all holy one, you are our Mother and our Father and we are your children. Open our eyes and our hearts so that we may be able to discern your work in the universe. And be able to see Your features in every one of Your children. May we learn that there are many paths but all lead to You. Help us to know that you have created us for family, for togetherness, for peace, for gentleness, for compassion, for caring, for sharing.”

“May we know that You want us to care for one another as those who know that they are sisters and brothers, members of the same family, Your family, the human family. Help us to beat our swords into plowshares and our spears into pruning hooks, so that we may be able to live in peace and harmony, wiping away the tears from the eyes of those who are less fortunate than ourselves. And may we know war no more, as we strive to be what You want us to be: Your children. Amen.”
Desmond M. Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, South Africa

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Lord, our God,
let there be peace in the world,
no more wars,
no more fighting,
no more killing.
Teach us to trust one another so we can share
our problems as well as our joys.
Teach us to care about one another and to
understand each other.
Teach world leaders to respect all people,
especially their own.
Help us to make peace wherever we are and to do
our small bit to bring peace to the world.
We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen
posted on their web site by a 6th grade class in Australia at http://www.schools.ash.org.au/stkierans-manly/Classes/Yr6/6B/Prayer/peac...
(This site is no longer active.)

--Lectionary Reflection by Fr. John Bucki, S.J.