How many times do we say "Happy New Year" without thinking. The more I reflect upon it the more I realize that the only way the year can be happy is if we allow it to be truly new.
Since 1967 the Catholic Church has celebrated today not only as the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God,but also the World Day of Peace.
The Church means peace not only in the ordinary sense but in the original Hebrew sense, when all is in order, when all things are in the right relationship.
St. Paul reminds us that we have been received the Spirit of his son into our hearts which cries out "abba." It is this spirit of God which we have been given which also brings with it, if we allow it, true peace.
Peace I leave you. My peace I give you, we say each time we celebrate the Eucharist.
Today as we begin 2012 let us dedicate ourselves once more to grounding our every thought word and deed this year in that peace of Christ. Let us hold on only to what is good and holy from the past and allow this to be a truly New Year.
