Daily Reflection – Jan 1, 2019
Tuesday 1 January 2019
First Reading: NM 6:22-2
Responsorial Psalm:
May God bless us in his mercy.
PS 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8
Second Reading: GAL 4:4-7
Gospel Reading: LK 2:16-2
Today’s Note: The Octave Day of Christmas Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
Gospel Reading:
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.
Then the shepherds returned,
glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen,
just as it had been told to them.
When eight days were completed for his circumcision,
he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.
Reflection:
Mary kept all these things. (Luke 2:19)
Happy 2019! We pray that this will be a year of great blessing for each of you. And what better way to begin the year than by honoring Mary!
As Mother of God, Mary had the privilege of bearing Jesus, true God and true man, into the world. Together with Joseph, she also had the honor—and the challenge—of raising a child whose two natures, divine and human, were intimately united but did not overshadow one another.
Think about the important role Mary played in teaching Jesus and forming him in his human nature. Think about how her example and her love influenced the kind of Messiah he would be. Her compassion helped show him what it means to be merciful. The witness of her faith helped him trust in God’s power to perform miracles. Her prayer, “May it be done to me according to your word,” taught him to follow his heavenly Father’s will (Luke 1:38). No wonder we proclaim that she is blessed among women!
In today’s Gospel, St. Luke tells us the most important thing that Mary taught Jesus: prayerfully reflecting on God’s words and his works. Jesus must have seen his mother praying thousands of times—both by herself and with Joseph. Her prayerfulness helped set the tone in her home as she taught her young son to bring every question, every word of praise, and every need to his heavenly Father. And clearly, it worked. The Gospels are filled with stories of Jesus finding time to get away and talk—and listen—to God (Mark 1:35; Luke 3:21; 9:28-29; John 11:41-43; 17:1-26).
Mary isn’t just the Mother of Jesus. She is also Mother of the Church. She is your Mother. So let her do for you what she did for Jesus. Let her example, her wisdom, and her intercession teach you how to ponder God’s word and how to treasure his love. Let her teach you how to pray.
“Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.”
