“Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be…?’ ” —Luke 1:34
To have a true Christmas, to meet Christ at Mass in a new, glorious way during the Christmas season, we must have a “Mary” Christmas and love Jesus as Mary does. To have a “Mary” Christmas, we should:
– not fear (Lk 1:30),
– be filled with God’s grace (Lk 1:30),
– have “the Holy Spirit…come upon” us (Lk 1:35),
– believe that “nothing is impossible with God” (Lk 1:37),
– rejoice in being the Lord’s servants, that is, the slaves of the Lord (Lk 1:38),
– “let it be done” to us according to God’s Word (Lk 1:38),
– trust “that the Lord’s words” to us will “be fulfilled” (Lk 1:45),
– proclaim “the greatness of the Lord” and find “joy in God” our Saviour (Lk 1:46-47),
-“be pierced with a sword” of sorrow (Lk 2:35),
-“do whatever [Jesus] tells” us and tell others to do the same (Jn 2:5),
-“be at the foot of Jesus’ cross (Jn 19:25), and
– together devote ourselves to constant prayer for a new Pentecost (Acts 1:14).
A “Mary” Christmas is a Christmas of faith, joy, self-sacrifice, obedience, evangelistic zeal, redemptive suffering, praise-filled worship, and constant prayer in the Holy Spirit.
A “Mary” Christmas to All !
PRAYER: Jesus, may You get what You want for Christmas.
PROMISE: “The favors of the Lord I will sing forever; through all generations my mouth shall proclaim Your faithfulness.” —Ps 89:2
PRAISE: “Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel because He has visited and ransomed His people” (Lk 1:68).
(From a reflection by a member of the editorial team of the late Fr Al Lauer’s Presentation Ministries) For the full Readings in English and Maltese and other reflections please go to: https:thewordonsunday.blogspot.com
