Quiet Moments

Mary, the Mother of God

January 1, 2016

First reading                                                                             Numbers 6:22-27

The Lord spoke to Moses and said, ‘Say this to Aaron and his sons: “This is how you are to bless the sons of Israel. You shall say to them:
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
May the Lord uncover his face to you and bring you peace.”
This is how they are to call down my name on the sons of Israel, and I will bless them.’

Psalm	Psalm 66:2-3,5,6,8

Second reading                                                                         Galatians 4:4-7                    When the appointed time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born a subject of the Law, to redeem the subjects of the Law and to enable us to be adopted as sons. The proof that you are sons is that God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts: the Spirit that cries, ‘Abba, Father’, and it is this that makes you a son, you are not a slave any more; and if God has made you son, then he has made you heir.

Gospel                                                                           Luke 2:16-21

The shepherds hurried away to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. When they saw the child they repeated what they had been told about him, and everyone who heard it was astonished at what the shepherds had to say. As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds went back glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen; it was exactly as they had been told.
  When the eighth day came and the child was to be circumcised, they gave him the name Jesus, the name the angel had given him before his conception.

Reflection

By Anabelle Payod-Balla

As I looked back, I see God's hands in my life. The different turning points in my life are the dots that led me to where I am today. These dots, these turning points just happened without me pursuing them. God just led me there as I put my life in a His care.

This is the reflection shared by a great leader of a company who is admired by many. As I listened to him, I can only nod my head in agreement because I can fully relate to what he said. I have seen these dots in my life and I want to call them God's loving finger prints. 

How about you? Have you figured out those situations when things just happened to you without the difficulty of choosing what decisions to make? When you didn't need to go and look for the opportunity because it came directly to you? 

This New Year,  may you find time to reflect and be enlightened by those turning points where you see God's hands, leading you to a better chapter of your life. And as we revisit our past, may God help us to discern His will for us and give us the grace to follow His promptings that will surely lead us to His loving embrace.

Like Mary, the Mother of God, who spends quiet moments to absorb what is happening, may we develop the habit and the attitude of reflection. Through reflection, we allow our minds to open up and see the bigger picture that surrounds us. Reflection can help us connect the pieces together and have better understanding. With better understanding comes acceptance and thanksgiving that will help prepare us for the next amazing things that God has prepared for us.

May God give us the grace to enjoy His wonderful blessings this year 2016. Happy New Year!!! 

Prayer

Father, we praise You for looking after us. Please continue to lead us in all our ways. Move us Lord to where we can be our best, to where we can serve You best. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Mary, Mother of God and Mother of us all, pray for us.