It’s the first day of the year, and it is also the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. How wonderful it is that at the very start of the year, we could spend it with Mary, our loving mother! With Mary, we begin with humility and trust as we venture into the unknown. With Mary, we can be led to Jesus, and with Jesus, no matter how dim the future may appear to us, we can have peace and hope.
Watching the online mass this morning, I was able to reflect upon the Holy Eucharist, and how Jesus has allowed Himself to be as a small bread for us all. To appear so simple and lowly as a piece of biscuit. Quiet and small and yet giving sustenance to His children.
I may never be able to fully comprehend this mystery. How Jesus can become this little bread that we can all share. In the same way, I’ve had this reflection in the form of a question: Which is harder? For a person to become bread? Or for a God to come down from heaven and become a person? Both things have happened, and both mysteries leave us blessed with the thought of God’s humility and compassion.
Today, in a feast we celebrate in honor of Mary, the Mother of God, I was led into this reflection about Jesus her Son. And such is what always happens. Mary does not come to exalt herself but to lead us to Jesus. Always to Jesus.
“They came with haste and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby was lying in the feeding trough. When they saw it, they publicised widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child. All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.” – Luke 2:16-19, WEBBE
“We never give more honour to Jesus than when we honour his Mother, and we honour her simply and solely to honour him all the more perfectly. We go to her only as a way leading to the goal we seek – Jesus, her Son.” -Saint Louis Marie de Montfort
Check Jocelyn's books:
"Of Waves and Butterflies: Poems on Grief", "Mend My Broken Heart", "Questions to God", "To Love an Invisible God", "Defending My Catholic Faith", and more - click here.
(You may freely quote excerpts from this website as long as due credit is given to author Jocelyn Soriano and the website itakeoffthemask.com)