The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,
they made known the message
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart. (Lk 2:16-19)
We finish our celebration of the Octave of Christmas today as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.
For one week, now, the Church has been celebrating Christmas. While many people have been taking down their decorations and throwing their Christmas trees away (just look at the streets around your homes), we have been celebrating that wondrous birth of Jesus over and over again.
It is a birth that fills us with great rejoicing and renewed hope.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, heard wondrous news after the birth of her Son. The shepherds came to see the child proclaimed by the angels. When they visited, they recounted to Mary and Joseph their vision of angels. Mary heard these things and treasured them.
We are called to do the same.
We hear the Good News proclaimed to us often.
We need to treasure that Good News so that it helps to shape our faith lives.
Part of the tradition of New Year’s Day is to make resolutions. These resolutions are often broken by the end of the month.
Today, try to make some spiritual resolutions and stick to them. They might include:
- Praying as a family daily
- A certain amount of time devoted to private prayer daily
- Daily reading from the Bible
- Regular reading of spiritual books
- Performing the corporal and spiritual works of mercy on a regular basis
Whatever your resolutions may be, let them lead you to a deeper relationship with God day by day.
A Happy, Healthy, and Holy New Year to you!
FAITH ACTION: Treasuring the Lord in your heart in silent prayer today, what can you resolve in order to become closer to Him this year?