Thursday – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (New Year’s Day)

Gospel – Luke 2:16-21

Mother of Us All

Church of Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

I have a big secret to share, a really big one!  Are you ready?  Moms KNOW everything!  I mean literally everything!  Every event in every daughter and son’s life, good and bad, achievement and mis-step! They cherish them, feel them, hold each of them close to their heart as if they happened to her.  Moms laugh and cry and suffer through every moment of their child’s life, no matter the age or circumstance.  They know it all!  They remember it all!  They feel it all!

Obviously that is not such a big secret, not at all.  But perhaps the real secret is this – they don’t always let on what they are going through.  Very often, they may laugh on the ouside, but inside they suffer silently, and they hope for us in the quiet of their hearts!   Just as we were physically a part of our mother, that connection never seems to break.  Our mothers continue to hold us close.  And as we go through life’s troubles, its ups and downs, so too do our mothers, mostly in quiet and without words.

We commemorate today the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.  And for me, there is one line in today’s Gospel that resonates – “And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart!”  Is there any better description of a mother?  Someone who gives us life, brings us into this world and cherishes every moment of our life.  She quietly meditates on all we do and she suffers along with us.

There is quite a contrast today between the shepherds and Mary.  The shepherds are excited and joyful; they return to their flocks shouting for joy and with thanksgiving.  And Mary?  She keeps all these things in her heart.  Quite an example for us today as we look forward to a hopefully brighter New Year.  Too often we spend the day making good-intentioned resolutions.  And then a few weeks later, they are forgotten and set aside.

Perhaps today we could follow Mary’s example.  Take the time to reflect, to ponder in our hearts all that has happened these past 12 months.  Our successes, our failures, our highs and lows.  Is there anything worth remembering?  Worth forgetting and moving on?  What have we learned about ourselves?  What have we learned about our relationships, particularly our relationship with God?  And then ask ourselves – what does it matter?  How have we changed?  And how should we change for this New Year? 

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death!  And every moment in-between!  A Happier New Year, a more hopeful 2026, One and All!