Solemnity of Mary, Mother of GodI 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. |
|
View this message in your browser. |
