The Octave Day of Christmas
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
Reading and Reflection
Mary kept all
these things, reflecting on them in her heart. There were
four celebrations at our house, depending on who came when.
With seven children and seven grandchildren, it was often noisy and
chaotic. As grama, I sometimes sat in the back of the living room,
gathering discarded wrapping paper, explaining exchange info, or adding
my comments of praise. But often I just watch the
goodness of the family loving each other. I know how much
each person has grown in holiness in the last year and some of the
wonderful things they've done for one another and others. I
am keeping all these things, reflecting on them in my heart.
God is truly present and through me, God is more and more present each
day. I don't take responsibility for it because I know it is
God's plan working through me, and so I sit in quiet awe that God uses
each of us to fulfill the plan of creation. It fills me with
a serene joy that I recognize in the many images of Mary in art.
A sense of satisfaction and surprise! Today as we celebrate
Mary, let us all identify with her and reflect on the way God is using
us to bring Christ to the world.
