At the very beginning of each new year, the Church celebrates its two most important founders. On January 1, we praise the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, and on January 3, we celebrate the name of Jesus, her son and our Savior.

Why can they be considered founders of the Church? Mary said ‘yes’ to the angel Gabriel. If she had said “no” and she had the free will to accept or decline God’s request, Christ would never have been conceived. Without Christ there would be no Christmas, no Christianity, and no Catholic Church.

Each year, we all get a year older. Mary and Jesus are two models who remind us that this world is not the goal of our lives. In fact, “the end” of our life is really the beginning of our eternal life, the true goal we all strive to attain by following the examples that these two lives have set for us. Jesus shows us the path to live by when we follow His Way, and Truth, and the Life. This is the rocky road that leads to eternal happiness. Mirroring Mary’s “yes” is how we begin to tread this highway while knowing and accepting the sharp curves and pot holes and punctures that will occur along the way.

A few years ago, I was preaching about the Name of Jesus in a sleepy town near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I ask the rhetorical question; how do people today use the name of Jesus? Do they tend to include “Jesus” in their prayers or in their swears?

The next day an attentive congregant brought me a bottle with the label: Sweet Baby Jesus Beer. The brewing company states: “Sweet Baby Jesus is a chocolate peanut butter porter… It has a rich flavor profile with notes of chocolate, coffee, and peanut butter, and is available year-round.” It is, in fact, a beer and certainly earns the name sweet. But why Baby Jesus?

Because the name of Jesus gets attention. The name of Jesus draws curiosity. The name of Jesus sells! My wonder is how many workers at that brewery actually pray? More liqueur than liquor, I doubt that this alcoholic beverage will become serious competition to the galloping Clydesdales. But the point is well-taken. Our society is quick to use religion to make a sale but not so quick to save a soul.

Holy Homework: Among our New Year’s resolutions, will we include devotions to the founders of our faith, Mary and Jesus? And if so, how so?

Comments may be sent to FatherBobPagliari@Yahoo.com