This Sunday we celebrate the great Feast of ‘Mary, the Mother of God’. “Mary, Mother of God” is something we must say to ourselves in awe and wonder, over and over again.
We celebrate that moment when, little more than a child, Mary said her “Yes” to God. A new beginning was about to unfold.
Mary did not know what would happen in the future, she did not even know what was happening to her, but in trust and humility she said “Yes.”
Mary herself, as the Gospel of today tells us, treasured all the things that happened to her, “…and pondered them in her heart.” For her, it must have been a life of pondering; a life filled with times of loneliness and doubt, but also filled with times of joy and delight and pondering filled with hope and trust.
A new year signals the chance of a new beginning for us all…
Can I open my heart to God’s presence and grace in a new way this year? Shall I give time to my heart to ponder on this presence?
A new year also invites us to take stock of the last year — what were the moments which mattered and which somehow “stayed” with me?
Was I able to see the hand of God in the people I met and in the various events? Were these moments filled with loneliness and doubt, or filled with joy and delight?
A new year is also a time of hope – for family, for yourself, for your faith and discipleships — what comes to mind for you?
Perhaps write your own personal prayer of blessing for the new year? What comes spontaneously to mind?
As we begin a New Year may we be guided by God’s grace today and always and may our hearts be constantly lifted by the wonder and awe of it all.