Stranice

I welcome you from the heart on New Year's Day and may this new year be blessed for you and your families, said Cardinal Josip Bozanić, Archbishop of Zagreb, while celebrating Holy Mass on the feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Mother of God on 1 January 2016 in the Zagreb Cathedral.

In his homily the Cardinal reflected on the gospel (Luke 2:16-21) which takes us back to Bethlehem, where a new-born child is lying in a manger, and tells us that Mary is the one who carries the memory of the history of salvation and memory of the Church. Let us pray so we can understand what God does for us through Mary’s eyes and Mary's comprehension, the Cardinal said.



The cardinal continued his homily by explaining the last sentence from the gospel extract regarding Jesus' circumcision and pointed out that this act is an indicator of Jesus' affiliation with the chosen, Israeli people. Each and every one of us, he pointed out, belongs to a certain family, has relatives, lineage, town, people and thus one cannot universally belong. One who values good relationships with his/her family and people is going to understand very well how to value good relationships with the rest of the world.



Jesus was given a name which means “God saves” by God himself, the Cardinal continued. What a beautiful and important role of parents it is to choose a name for their child. One’s name is one’s identity and what one is recognized by. So, you, young parents, be aware that when you are choosing a name for your child you are giving it an identity as well, he pointed out.



The fullness of times, which St. Paul speaks of in his Epistle to the Galatians, took place when God entered human history in such a strong manner, the Cardinal said and added that the fullness of times takes place every time when we open ourselves to God, when ours and God’s becomes intertwined. Cardinal Bozanić concluded his homily with words: “Let us pray that God never stops entering our lives and that what we do is right in God’s eyes.”