Thursday, January 1st

Scripture

Num 6:22-27
Ps 67: 2, 3, 5, 6, 8
Gal 4: 4-7
Lk 2:16-21

Reflection

“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!” Num 6: 24-26
“And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” Lk 2:19

On New Year’s Day the Church weaves colorful threads into a tapestry placing Mary “Mother of God” front and center. Mary’s unequivocal “Yes” empowered Jesus, the Word, to become flesh. How often Mary must have reflected on this in her heart! Elizabeth gave voice to Mary’s discipleship, crying out, “Blessed are you who believed what was spoken to you by the Lord was fulfilled.”

Today marks the end of the Christmas octave, the 8th day, also presaging the entire life of Christ and his Resurrection symbolically referred to as the 8th day. We join the universal Church praying for world peace, invoking Mary’s intercession as Queen of Peace.

Pope Francis, in his homily on January 1, 2025, entrusting the New Year to Mary, invited us “like her, to discover God’s greatness in the little things of life…to cherish life, to care for wounded lives…to restore dignity to the lives of everyone ‘born of woman,’ for this is the basis for building a culture of peace.”

Prayer

May we come together as one family, to labor for your peace–
a shalom where all your people may dwell in safety
and rest in quiet peace.
(adapted from the 2025 Season of Creation Prayer)

Personal Challenge

Let us sing as we go. May our struggles and our concern for this
planet never take away the joy of our hope.
(adapted from Laudato Si)
I will use these words for an occasional Examen.

Sister Cynthia Sabathier, CSJ
Baton Rouge, LA