It is 1st January 2017. We begin a brand New Year of blessings in 2017. Wishing you one and all a happy and blessing-filled year starting from today. Remembered you all and prayed for you dearly in the vigil Mass. We celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. The readings are from Numbers 6:22-27; the second reading from Galatians 4:4-7; and the Gospel from Luke 22:16-21. We have a very special blessing from the Lord as we begin a New Year. “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!” (Num.6:24-26). St Paul assures our surety to become the child of God through the timely birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Gospel presents the shepherds spreading the Good News about the birth of Jesus. Moreover, Mother Mary treasured ‘all these things’ in her heart. Whenever we acknowledge the divinity of Christ Jesus, we acknowledge the divine motherhood of Mary. Jesus is the Son of God was born of a woman named Mary. By this very fact, she secures this special place and honour above all women on earth. She will surely accompany us as she did with Jesus. As long as we hold the hands of beloved mother Mary throughout this brand New Year, we will be in a right path leading to her Son Jesus. She is more than willing to help us accomplish the wish and resolution for the New Year without any difficulty. May the Lord bless each one of us today as we are celebrating the New Year and the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. May you be blessed today and all throughout the year. May God bless you.