RESPECT all Holy Books.

It's the National Bible Sunday here in the Philippines but in my own country in Malaysia, there are some people who have threatened to burn bibles. (Read here). The Member of Parlimen called on Muslims to seize and burn copies of Bibles... It was also reported that there were flyers urging Muslims to torch Malay language Bibles today. (Read here). 

Many Malaysians including Muslims have spoken out against the bible burning plan and police reports have been done asking the authorities to intervene. Read here for the article on Malaysians speak out and here for a video of a certain group of independent Malaysians of various faiths and races lodged a police report.

I am against any sort of disrespect shown on any Holy Books be it the Bible, Quran, Vedas, Bhagavad Gita, Sutras, Torah, etc. These are texts which various religious traditions consider to be sacred, or of central importance to their religious tradition. Many religions and spiritual movements believe that their sacred texts are divinely or supernaturally revealed or inspired. Let us respect each other's beliefs, practices and traditions. Let us work hard for PEACE.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15

R. (cf John 6:63c) Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart
find favor before you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
R. Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.

Mary Mother of God.

When we address Mother Mary with the title ‘Mother of God’, fundamentalist are horrified!! How could God have a mother?

We know that God has no mother in eternity, but when God the son became human, he was born of the Virgin Mary (Matt 1:16. Gal 14:4). So she is his mother in his incarnation.

Lk1:43 – Elizabeth use of ‘Mother of my Lord’ (in Hebrew, Elizabeth used Adonai which means Lord God) is the equivalent of ‘Holy Mary, mother of God’ which Catholics pray in the Rosary. The formula is simple; Jesus is a divine person, and this person is God. Mary is Jesus’ mother, so Mary is the mother of God.

Mary is not just the mother of Jesus’ human nature – for mothers are mothers of persons, not natures.

If Mary is the Mother of Jesus, and if Jesus is God, then Mary is the Mother of God. There is no way out of this logical syllogism.

When we honor Mary as the Mother of God, nobody should be confused that she is older than God or the source of her son’s divinity, for she is neither.

Rather, we say that she is the Mother of God in the sense that she carried in her womb a divine person – Jesus Christ, God in the flesh and in the sense that she contributed the genetic matter to the human form God took in Jesus Christ. She is mother of God and not God. So we honor her and not worship her.

It is so fitting that we end this year and begin the New Year taking Mary as our Model of Faith. In the Gospel that we just heard, we see Mary kept all these ‘strange’ happenings and reflecting on them in her heart.

We too today look back at our past, the events of the 2012, be it good happenings or not so good. And as we reflect on them let all those ‘stumbling blocks’ be a ‘stepping stone’ for us in this new year of 2013.

This remind me of the song ‘ Lord I offer my life to you’ which is so fitting for today….

All that I am, all that I have
I lay them down before you, oh Lord
All my regrets, all my acclaims
The joy and the pain, I'm making them yours

Things in the past, things yet unseen
Wishes and dreams that are yet to come true
All of my heart, all of my praise
My heart and my hands are lifted to you

(Chorus)
Lord, I offer my life to you
Everything I've been through
Use it for your glory
Lord I offer my days to you
Lifting my praise to you
As a pleasing sacrifice
Lord I offer you my life

Let me end the homily with the blessings of the new year, the prayer  that we heard in the 1^st reading:-

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!