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Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Readings of the Day 
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I don't know about you, but I find myself relieved that we have
now turned the calendar page to 2021! How fortunate that liturgically
we celebrate this day in honor of Mary, the Mother of God.  We
have just celebrated Christmas which would not have happened quite as
it did without Mary, and we just finished a year like none other in
our history.  As I have been praying and thinking about
Mary's gift to us and the Church, I can't help consider
what we have dealt with in 2020.

Our sisters and brothers around the world who are displaced,
migrating, immigrants, may well have sought the intercession of Mary
to protect their families, find safe harbor, and survive.

Our sisters and brothers who are essential workers - be they medical
personnel, fire fighters, police, store clerks, sanitation workers,
parish and Catholic Charities staff, transportation providers- they
too may well have sought the intercession of Mary to protect
themselves and have the insight they need.

Our sisters and brothers who are parents trying to make ends meet as
their hours were cut or they were laid off and trying to be a teacher
for their children, they too, may have sought the intercession of Mary
to find a way where no way seemed to exist.

Our sisters and brothers who are educators trying to honor their
calling amidst seemingly insurmountable odds - virtual, hybrid,
in-person all of which could change on a dime.  They too, may
have sought the intercession of Mary to have the strength to make it
through.

In today's Gospel from Luke we hear, "And Mary kept all
these things, reflecting on them in her heart."  I suspect
no less for all the ways we have needed her in this past year and, no
doubt, the year ahead.  

In our ministries we have probably had the privilege and the challenge
of encountering many of these situations.  For some, perhaps, we
are the answer to a prayer, for others, we may have a small part to
play and I suspect, in most, we have joined our sisters and brothers
in prayer to our Mother.  

The reading from Numbers offers this prayer:

          The Lord bless you and keep
you! 

          The Lord let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you! 

          The Lord look upon you kindly and
give you peace!"

May it be so!  Happy New Year!

Sr. Betsy Van Deusen is a Sister of Saint Joseph of Carondelet who
serves with Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany as the
Director of Community Partnerships. She is also the Diocesan Director
for Catholic Relief Services and Catholic Campaign for Human
Development.  She presently serves on the Catholic Charities USA
Parish Social Ministry Leadership Team.

 




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