Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Blessings

Luke 2:16-21


"We solemnly ask for your blessing," the fiancees tell their parents.

What does it mean to live a life of blessings?

We are indeed imploring the Lord to bless our entire year.  For the opposite of blessing is a curse.  When we confess, we somehow acknowledge that our blessings disappeared and what resulted is a life of curse.  We don't want curses to greet us this New Year 2015.

How do we go about living a life of blessings?

First, recognize the Lord as the source of all blessings.  Remember "Bless us o Lord and these Thy gifts..." before we eat our food?  Reflect how everything is a blessing that comes from the Almighty.  For He does not wish us to die or to suffer.

Second, to be blessed means "to find favor with God."  Mary was chosen because she enjoys God's favor.  When we feel that God is away, we do not enjoy His favor.  Thus, to find favor is a sign to total intimacy with God.

Third, pray to bless others.  We invoke Mary to bless us.  The mandate of the priest is to bless people and things in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  The whole world in turn becomes blessed, offered to God and favored by God.

May we live a life of blessings all year round!

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