Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
As the sun rises on this New Year’s Day, we review the year that has passed and look with hope to the year that lies ahead. Whether you are someone who makes resolutions or not, this time of transition gives us all a moment to think about how we want things to look different a year from now. As I have been praying about the areas in which I most need growth, humility and change in my own life, I find myself drawn to one theme again and again - discipleship.
How fitting that on this day we celebrate the solemnity of Mary, the Mother of our Lord. Mary, whose solemnity we celebrate today, provides us with a beautiful example of discipleship. Luke tells us that after the shepherds visited, “Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). I read this to mean that Mary was quiet, thoughtful, prayerful, discerning and patient. Mary took time to ponder – meaning to think about something carefully. As disciples, we too are called to follow Mary’s example – to make time for quiet, to be prayerful, patient, thoughtful and discerning. Today’s world is so loud, fast and busy. Do you allow yourself time for prayerful contemplation? This new year, perhaps this is your discipleship goal – to find time for reflection and discernment, time to ponder.
Let us return once more to the Gospel. Luke actually provides us with two very beautiful models for discipleship. Along with Mary, we see the shepherds modeling for us how to be a disciple of Christ. Luke shares with us that after the shepherds visited with the Holy Family, they “returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them” (Luke 2:20). The shepherds had an experience of God, an encounter with Christ. It was unexpected, unprecedented and probably somewhat terrifying. BUT they did not keep this experience of Christ to themselves. They went back to where they had come from and shared the glory of this encounter. They were changed by God and shared that good news with others. When I look at the shepherds as a model of discipleship, I see that we too are called to share our own encounters with Christ. We are called to share the ways in which God has changed us, with others. We are meant to praise God, to glorify him and to give thanks. Discipleship calls us to proclaim God’s goodness. Do we give glory and praise to God? Do we share your experiences of Christ with others? Perhaps this is our discipleship goal in this new year - to intentionally give glory and honor to the Lord.
As we enter this new year, may we spend some time in quiet prayer, asking God to help show us the ways in which we can be better disciples. Let us ask God to shine a light on the areas in which we need growth as disciples. Perhaps we need to be more like the shepherds – are we being called to spread God’s goodness to others, giving glory and praise to the Lord? Or perhaps our model is Mary – are we being called to find time, space and energy for quiet reflection, pondering all that God has done. It may be that our call to discipleship looks different still. Whatever the answer, may we make 2025 the year of discipleship. Amen.
- A J Grimm