It's rare that Christmas Day (and hence New Year's Day also) fall on Sunday, but that's excactly what has happened this year, so while the regular crowds gather for the weekend liturgies, some of them have had to share their regular seats with some newcomers (or some of the CEOs) who have come to pray with us in the past week or so.
As a new calendar year begins, it is perhaps customary that we should want to start afresh, so today gives us pause to set our sights on ways that we can improve, ways that we can reach out to others in need, ways that we can aim to do things that much better in the coming months, and thankfully, we do all this with the help of some very powerful intercessors. January 1 is also the liturgical Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, so pray with Mary as we begin this new year. Ask her to intercede and to bring us closer to the loving heart of her Son, so that we might grow ever-more in our knowledge of Him and our appreciation for His love.
In case it might help, here is this week's reflection (in text and podcast format of course):
Words to be treasured
This past week, many of us have taken a bit of time to visit, to exchange greetings with family and friends and to get caught up with one another’s lives. Some of these meetings involved first-time encounters, and others brought together old-time friends. Stories and adventures were recounted even as traditions old and new were observed.
I’m not sure whether any of you noticed, but in the midst of these meetings, God has revealed himself to us. God has shared with us a number of blessings, some of which we have already acknowledged and others which are yet to be noticed.
The shepherds who visited with Mary and Joseph and their newborn child were also anxious to tell their story, and what a story it was. This was a tale of mysterious apparitions involving angels who had revealed a secret and good news that had compelled them to make their way to Bethlehem. This good news had also awakened in them a need to search for the Christ-child. I wonder whether Mary and Joseph were surprised at all by this encounter, or by the words that were spoken as they recounted their encounter with the heavenly messengers.
The story of the shepherds’ visit has been told and retold every year for the past two millennia, and yet every time its details are recounted, the truths it contains are fresh and vibrant. Unlike the best of novels penned, this story is always new because each one of us here is part of this story. Each one of us comes to visit with the newborn child every time we utter a word in prayer. Each one of us welcomes the shepherds whenever we encounter a friend who knocks at our door. Each one of us has cause to ponder the truths of such an encounter, as did Mary in the stable. Each one of us has reason to treasure the truths spoken in Paul’s letter to the Galatians: God sent his Son … in order to redeem each one of us. If therefore God sent his Son into our hearts, we are all sons, daughters and heirs of God.
Every year, at the beginning of the calendar year, we hear these words read aloud. Every year, we are given the chance to stop, to listen anew, and to come to believe them ever more deeply. What do Paul’s words truly mean? Could it really be that in Christ, God wanted to make us his sons and daughters, his heirs? What is it then that we are to inherit? If God had written a Last Will and Testament, would it include you and me? Answer, yes! Believe it! You and I have been bequeathed a part of God’s inheritance. Unlike the pieces of paper that we prepare with such care and then squirrel away in vaults, safety deposit boxes or in lawyers’ offices, this testament is renewed each day, each time we hear the good news of the gospel proclaimed. We are heirs of God. Perhaps we have difficulty believing that we could truly be enumerated among the elect who call themselves sons and daughters of God. Perhaps even despite numerous years having been spent discovering this truth, we might still have difficulty believing that each one of us is indeed so deeply loved, but it’s true.
Ponder then with Mary and Joseph the truths revealed in this encounter. Among us are the bearers of good news. Among us are the ones who receive the blessing of God, and the encouragement we need to encounter friends new and old, to recount our adventures in faith and to believe ever anew that God has revealed himself to us, that he has looked graciously and kindly upon us and that he has blessed us with his peace.
Happy New Year!
As a new calendar year begins, it is perhaps customary that we should want to start afresh, so today gives us pause to set our sights on ways that we can improve, ways that we can reach out to others in need, ways that we can aim to do things that much better in the coming months, and thankfully, we do all this with the help of some very powerful intercessors. January 1 is also the liturgical Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, so pray with Mary as we begin this new year. Ask her to intercede and to bring us closer to the loving heart of her Son, so that we might grow ever-more in our knowledge of Him and our appreciation for His love.
In case it might help, here is this week's reflection (in text and podcast format of course):
Words to be treasured
This past week, many of us have taken a bit of time to visit, to exchange greetings with family and friends and to get caught up with one another’s lives. Some of these meetings involved first-time encounters, and others brought together old-time friends. Stories and adventures were recounted even as traditions old and new were observed.
I’m not sure whether any of you noticed, but in the midst of these meetings, God has revealed himself to us. God has shared with us a number of blessings, some of which we have already acknowledged and others which are yet to be noticed.
The shepherds who visited with Mary and Joseph and their newborn child were also anxious to tell their story, and what a story it was. This was a tale of mysterious apparitions involving angels who had revealed a secret and good news that had compelled them to make their way to Bethlehem. This good news had also awakened in them a need to search for the Christ-child. I wonder whether Mary and Joseph were surprised at all by this encounter, or by the words that were spoken as they recounted their encounter with the heavenly messengers.
The story of the shepherds’ visit has been told and retold every year for the past two millennia, and yet every time its details are recounted, the truths it contains are fresh and vibrant. Unlike the best of novels penned, this story is always new because each one of us here is part of this story. Each one of us comes to visit with the newborn child every time we utter a word in prayer. Each one of us welcomes the shepherds whenever we encounter a friend who knocks at our door. Each one of us has cause to ponder the truths of such an encounter, as did Mary in the stable. Each one of us has reason to treasure the truths spoken in Paul’s letter to the Galatians: God sent his Son … in order to redeem each one of us. If therefore God sent his Son into our hearts, we are all sons, daughters and heirs of God.
Every year, at the beginning of the calendar year, we hear these words read aloud. Every year, we are given the chance to stop, to listen anew, and to come to believe them ever more deeply. What do Paul’s words truly mean? Could it really be that in Christ, God wanted to make us his sons and daughters, his heirs? What is it then that we are to inherit? If God had written a Last Will and Testament, would it include you and me? Answer, yes! Believe it! You and I have been bequeathed a part of God’s inheritance. Unlike the pieces of paper that we prepare with such care and then squirrel away in vaults, safety deposit boxes or in lawyers’ offices, this testament is renewed each day, each time we hear the good news of the gospel proclaimed. We are heirs of God. Perhaps we have difficulty believing that we could truly be enumerated among the elect who call themselves sons and daughters of God. Perhaps even despite numerous years having been spent discovering this truth, we might still have difficulty believing that each one of us is indeed so deeply loved, but it’s true.
Ponder then with Mary and Joseph the truths revealed in this encounter. Among us are the bearers of good news. Among us are the ones who receive the blessing of God, and the encouragement we need to encounter friends new and old, to recount our adventures in faith and to believe ever anew that God has revealed himself to us, that he has looked graciously and kindly upon us and that he has blessed us with his peace.
Happy New Year!
No comments:
Post a Comment