On this Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, we remember what a blessing she was to Jesus and to us. As the new year begins, we also take the opportunity, like Mary, to ponder the past and open ourselves to the future.
After Jesus foretold destruction, he reassured the crowd that they would be safe if they persevered. So whatever difficulty you face, know that Jesus stands by to help us, and we can be thankful at least for that.
While Jesus was teaching his disciples that he had to die, they were more concerned with who among them was the greatest. Jesus pointed out this disconnect and challenged them: ‘Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.’
Jesus told his disciples that in difficult times that were coming, they should not prepare how to defend themselves. The Spirit would give them the words they would need. In the same way, sometimes we need to empty our own hearts of the words we have prepared to say and let God speak through us.
Jesus told his disciples that they are to be the salt of the earth and lamps on a lampstand. Thus, we are called to bring the light of Christ to everyone around us that is struggling with darkness, or to allow others to shine their light on us if we are in darkness.
