Solemnity of Mary Mother of God

 

Praise be to Jesus Christ

Today is the first day of 2021; God’s blessings be with you.

“The Lord bless and keep you.”  (Numbers 6:24)

 

2021 is a year of white Ox.  Ox is known as reliable, industrious, and supportive for human lives.  Especially a white Ox is known as a sacred animal.  I hope you will fortify foundation of your faith through Ox’s steadfastness and diligence.

 

The following poem “Biennial Bearing” by Mr. Nohae Park speaks on how to take care of your foundation or roots:

 

This year Autumn ripens  

Our persimmon tree appears bear

Neighbors tree showing ripened red permissions

Branches bend full of tasty persimmons

 

Came home hungry from school

Implored mother working in the field

Why isn’t our tree bearing any fruit

 

It is going through alternate bearing

Permission trees is also organic

It is tired from last year

It won’t bear any flowers or fruits now

It is strengthening its roots

When preparing for next cycle don’t look up

Look down to develop your roots

 

Until the end of Autumn

I looked up but stopped begging

Wanted the roots to listen

So bent down under the tree

Be strong, be strong I said

I spoke as loud as I was hungry

 

After the harvest

Mom dug around the tree and fertilized

Then a sign of cross

 

To see the flowers and fruits, you must bend

Take care of the roots and soil

Properly prepare for alternate bearing

This is the proper way for the future

 

COVID 19 will continue to impact us this year.

Due to COVID, our relationships could not blossom and yield any fruits.

We should not be sad but instead we need to take care of the roots or foundations.

Focus on the mass and primary prayers in the morning, before meals, rosary, and todays readings.  

 

2021 is a new white Ox year; I hope it will be a reliable and industrious biennial bearing year to increase your faith and hope.  

 

Let us mediate for a moment.