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January 1, 2024"The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord let his face shine upon you and be gracious." This ancient blessing in the Book of Numbers we hear in today's readings continues to bring us peace and hope just as they did to those hearing these words many centuries ago, and as it has done throughout the ages.
In Luke’s Gospel, the Lord let his face shine upon Mary as she held her newborn child. Even in the dusty manger, probably tired from the events of the night, Mary knew to pause and prayerfully listen carefully to the extraordinary message the shepherds were delivering, first to her, and in turn, to all humankind. In the quiet of the night, Mary kept all these things and reflected on them in her heart. We all know what it is to treasure and try to preserve an important experience in our lives, especially when we sense that somehow God has let his face shine upon us. Like Mary, we turn to reflect deeply as we attempt to puzzle or tease out the meaning or consequences of what has happened. As Mary pondered these events in her heart, perhaps she did not fully comprehend just yet what these events might mean. Yet in her prayerful silence and reflection, she models for all Christians two of the most important characteristics of discipleship: prayer and discernment.
If we prayerfully reflect on Mary, the Mother of our Lord, and indeed, our own spiritual mother, we will see that she shows us the way to discern God’s will, even and especially when the events of one’s life prove difficult to ponder and accept. She is skilled at the discernment of spirits, open to seeing how all things can lead us to freedom in God, open to the moments when God's face shines upon us, open to reaching out to others in love so as to be a blessing for others.
New Year celebrations are not complete without resolutions. In this coming year, may we become more like Mary by entrusting the future to God’s loving design for each of us. May we resolve to allow this trust in God's love and providence to calm our fears and dispel any anxiety that may tempt us to despair. May we become more open to the surprises that God has in store for us which often come to us through the most unlikely of messengers. May the Spirit of Christ open our hearts and minds and lead us to graciousness and love for our fellow humans. And finally, may "The Lord bless you and keep you! May the Lord let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you! And may the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!"
