Happy New Year! (And it’s not just a FIRST day, it’s also a FEAST day!)

That’s right, today is not only the first day of the new year it’s also.. the feast day of Mary the Mother of God! This is such an important day to remember and it’s not just because Catholics are on some “Mary trip” or something. Just check out today’s Mass readings for yourself and put the puzzle pieces together!

But in case you don’t like puzzles, here’s the big picture.

The great Church Father, St. Athanasius, once said: “The Son of God became the Son of Man so that the sons of men could become the sons of God.” In other words, God shared in our nature so that we could share in His nature through grace. Check out St. Paul (Galatians 4:4-7):

“Brothers and sisters:
When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son,
born of a woman, born under the law,
to ransom those under the law,
so that we might receive adoption as sons.
As proof that you are sons,
God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying out, “Abba, Father!”
So you are no longer a slave but a son,
and if a son then also an heir, through God.”

You see, by becoming part of the Body of Christ, the Church, we enter into Christ and become the adopted children of God – but this is more than simply a legal adoption. We are born again through faith and baptism (John 3:5) as sons in the one Son. Because of this, all that Christ has is ours – we are heirs of all that belongs to Him. This includes God as Father, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the home of heaven.

It also includes Mary as our Mother and Queen. So why don’t we take a day, obey the 4th Commandment and honor our Mother, shall we?