Wednesday, January 1, 2014

She is the Mother of God

Last evening, New Year's Eve, our Sisters had a Holy Hour before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.  We thanked God for the blessings of 2013 and asked Him for His blessings on the New Year.  In the silence of our prayer time I was struck with the thought that what we were doing was in such contrast to the noise of Times Square.

There is nothing wrong with people celebrating the New Year.  But the contrast between noise and silence made me think of the Blessed Mother whose solemn feast we celebrate today.  Her life was one of silence: Scripture records very little of her voice.  But her "yes" to God, the Father, brought about the greatest miracle - the miracle that with her "yes" she became the Mother of God.  She was more than the mother of Jesus, more than the mother of our Savior, she was and is the Mother of God!  We affirm that title every time we say the "Hail Mary"  - "Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners..."

Life is very noisy these days.  I sometimes think the noise is orchestrated by the Evil One who wants to keep us from thinking about Jesus - and about His mother.  If you are ever bombarded by noise to the point where it gets to you, think of Mary, the Woman of Holy Silence.  If you need peace, ask her to speak with her Son who is the Prince of Peace.  Perhaps during this coming year we can ask God for the grace of silence so that we can pray.  How much we need to be able to pray.  How much our noisy world needs our prayers. 

"Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now...and at the hour of our death.
 
Happy New Year!

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