The Holy Mother of the Lord

 

 

 Luke 2: 16-21

 Mary Pondered These Things

¹⁶ So they [the Shepherds] hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

²¹ On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

We begin the New Year again at the manger with the newborn Son of God, Mary, Joseph and the Shepherds as we did a week ago at Midnight Mass. For a week, we've been reflecting  on this miraculous event and its implications for the mission of Jesus and the call to us to believe and follow.  Today we look at this through Mary and are reminded how she treasured and pondered these events in her heart. Again our Mother leads the way, giving us the example of how we too should be approaching the birth of her Son and the 365 days ahead of us in this new Year.  Will we squander them and go on on with 'life as usual" or will we be more sensitive to the presence of Jesus in our lives?  Will we ponder the ways he is calling us to be closer disciples and bearers of his message to others? Let's join Mary in her ponderings as discover what we are to do to make our lives and the lives of others better this New Year. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Bro. Rene