Today is the Solemnity of Mary the Holy Mother of God. The gospel starts out by saying that:
“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.”
Who can look upon a nativity scene and not feel the miracle of Christ’s birth?
It’s such a miracle though, every single time that a new life is brought into the world. Just ask anyone who was fortunate enough to be present in the delivery room to witness a newborn baby take its first breath of life. Even seasoned doctors marvel at each and every new life that they help bring into the world. It is a miracle that never ceases to amaze them.
However, the birth of baby Jesus was the holiest event that was ever recorded in human history. The whole universe seemed to dance with joy! (At least the angels did.) What would God the Father have felt when He witnessed the miracle of His own son’s birth? He has feelings much the same as you and I, because after all, we were created in His image. God the Father is portrayed with all the same emotions that we have, in the stories of the old testament.
All of heaven must have been celebrating. Maybe that is why God, in His joy, sent the angels to tell the nearby shepherds about His son’s birth. Human fathers pass out cigars or other manly treats to their friends and acquaintances to celebrate their child’s birth, but God the Father sent angels to fill the night sky with hymns of praise instead. What a glorious sight that must have been!
The only reason this miraculous event occurred though, is because Mary said “yes” to God’s request to bear His son. She didn’t know what that entailed at the time, and as a new mother she didn’t know what the future would hold either.
That is why Mary is the greatest saint that the world has ever known though. She risked her own life in order to do what God asked of her. A simple decision made from a simple faith, and trust in God, but that little decision changed the entire course of humankind forever. We will live forever because of a simple decision this young Jewish girl made – and we are eternally grateful to her.
No one knows what Mary actually looked like, but we all recognize the profound beauty of her soul. What a perfect creature she was, that God chose her out of all women, to bear his son! How imperfect we all are in comparison with her.
Mary is so pure and perfect that our imperfections may seem to stand out in stark comparison to her perfections. However, God loves us all, in spite of our flaws. The shepherds were poor, simple people. They were often dirty, and were considered to be the lowest class of their society at the time, and yet – God sent His angels to them and not the most religious people in the community.
Mary was just a human being like us too, even though she is the most perfect woman who ever lived. From the first moment of the angel’s visit to her, until baby Jesus’s birth though, she surely must have been concerned about the future. Any other woman would have been. But maybe God didn’t reveal everything to her all at once, because the gospel said that, “Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” She simply lived in the present moment, trusting that God was with her and that all would be well. If only we could have that same kind of attitude when we’re faced with major uncertainties about our own life.
There is so much peace to be found in living in the present moment. Maybe in the new year, we could work on giving the past, the present, and our future to God the Father, and learn to trust Him more with our lives. We really should let go of the need to control things, or the need to seek perfection in everything we do, because it causes a great deal of stress in our lives. God does not expect this of us any more than He expected the shepherds to be perfect in today’s gospel.
A good thought for the rest of the day though, is found in the last verse of the first reading for Mass today. It is a wonderful blessing to start the new year with:
“The Lord bless you and keep you! The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!”
May the peace and joy of Jesus Christ be with you and your family throughout the coming year!
