Happy New Year! On this first day of the Year of Our Lord 2019, we acclaim Mary as Mother of God and ask her to mind us and those we love during this new year. Today is also World Peace Day, a day during which we pray for peace.

Today, the Sunday after Christmas, is part of the continuing celebration of the Lord’s Nativity. In today’s Mass, we honour the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. As we say goodbye to 2018, we entrust our families to their patronage, and pray for God’s help in 2019, soon to dawn upon us.

We celebrate today an amazing mystery — God is born in time. The eternal God has taken human flesh, has pitched his tent in the midst of humanity. With joy in our hearts, we contemplate the mystery of the Word made flesh.

In the dark of this winter night, we proclaim the new light that has shone on the world: Jesus Christ is born! With the angels, we worship God who saves us — for through the life, death and resurrection of this child Jesus, salvation is ours.

Advent is drawing to a close; we have just another day left to prepare for the birth of Christ. On this Sunday, we rejoice that the promise made to Mary by the Lord is to be fulfilled.