Today is the first day of 2025 and what would this year hold for us? Will the days be useful or useless? Will the nights be restless or refreshing? God blesses people in various ways—spiritual, mental, emotional and material. But the focus here is on blessing people with words. Our good words become the moment of God’s grace in people’s lives. Today’s Gospel reading presents a story about Jesus’ family: from the poor outcasts, the shepherds, to angels, his heavenly family, and Mary and Joseph his earthly parents. We learn right from wrong from our parents. As we begin the new year, we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. In today’s Gospel Mary was beginning to understand who her Son might be. She did not know the full meaning of Jesus’ birth. Just as we need to reflect and ponder what Jesus’ birth means, so did she. Faith develops and grows deeper as we hope, love and live according to it. Let us enjoy its development in our souls.

PRAYER: Abba Father, thank you that you are here in our midst. Let your Word be powerful to us. Amen.