The Archbishop of Johannesburg celebrated the first Mass of 2026 on the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, at Christ the King Cathedral, inviting the faithful to begin the New Year with gratitude, hope, and renewed trust in God’s abiding presence.

In his homily, Cardinal Stephen Brislin reflected on the year that had passed and encouraged believers to give thanks for all that 2025 had brought—its joys and blessings, as well as its trials and sufferings—recognising that God had remained faithful throughout.

As the Church marked the beginning of 2026, Cardinal Brislin spoke of the opportunity the New Year offers for spiritual renewal. While New Year’s resolutions are often “quickly forgotten,” he urged the faithful to make enduring commitments rooted in faith: to deepen their prayer life, to overcome harmful habits, and to strive to live what is righteous and holy. Entering the year ahead, he said, the people of God are called to make God the focus of all they “do, think, and say.”

Turning to the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Cardinal Brislin reflected on the significance of the solemnity, which proclaims the central mystery of Christ’s identity as fully human and fully divine. It was within this context that the Archbishop of Johannesburg pointed to Mary as a model for Christian life, reminding those gathered that “Mary remains an example to us and an ideal on which to model our lives.” Through her faithful “yes” to God, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, revealing God’s saving plan for humanity.

Cardinal Brislin explained that the title Mother of God does not elevate Mary above God, but instead affirms the truth about her Son. Mary did not create God; rather, she was chosen to give birth to Jesus Christ, who is both true God and true man. All Marian feasts, he noted, ultimately direct the Church’s gaze to God’s glory and power at work in human history.

“Today’s feast,” he said, “is important because it is a solemn reminder that her Son Jesus is not only flesh and blood like us, not only human, but is also Divine. He is fully human and fully Divine. This solemnity therefore proclaims the Divinity of Jesus Christ as well as his humanity.”

He continued, “Mary did not only give birth to the earthly Jesus, but she was chosen by God to be instrumental in bringing the Divine Jesus into the world. Through her, God became flesh and dwelt among us, and thus from ancient times she has been called “The Mother of God”. Through the grace of God working in her and inspiring her “fiat”, her “yes” to God, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

The Cardinal highlighted two key teachings flowing from the feast. The first is the dignity and beauty of motherhood. Mary, entrusted to the Church by Christ from the Cross, continues to be a mother, intercessor, comfort, and source of consolation for believers. In a world where motherhood is often undervalued or insufficiently supported, she stands as a powerful sign of its sacred vocation—a calling from God that fills the world with love, sacrifice, and life.

The second teaching calls every Christian to imitate Mary by making room for the Word of God in their own lives. Faith, Cardinal Brislin said, is not merely adherence to doctrines, but a lived reality that must be internalised and expressed through concrete acts of truth and mercy. When believers live their faith through good works, they become instruments of the Holy Spirit, allowing others to encounter Jesus Christ.

In his concluding remarks, Cardinal Brislin noted that Mary’s goodness and virtue are recognised beyond Christianity, honoured in other faith traditions for her obedience and purity. Through her, God has chosen to reveal the beauty of the divine at work in humanity.

“Mary is the only woman who is named in the Koran; she is mentioned by name 34 times and is upheld as a person of virtue and is described as the “best of women”. Similarly, she is held in high regard by the Baha’i and the Druze religions. Through Mary, God has chosen to unite disparate peoples as they see in her the lived beauty and the goodness of the Divine which she bore in her womb,” said Cardinal Brislin.

As the Church begins the New Year, Cardinal Brislin invited the faithful to entrust themselves once more to Mary’s intercession, praying for fidelity to God and faithfulness to their calling as disciples of Christ. Echoing the words of Scripture, he prayed that the Lord may bless and keep His people, let His face shine upon them, and grant them peace.