Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart.
The above quote from today’s Gospel is a powerful line. It goes to the heart of parenting. Keeping all things in our hearts so that we can understand. As parents, we remember small details of first steps, first tooth, first day in school, first football game etc… so many firsts.
Today’s Gospel speaks of the birth of Jesus: Joseph and Mary caring for the baby; the visitors being amazed at the child Jesus.
New life is amazing. It is so fragile and delicate yet so resilient.
Today we remember all those who cared for us in our lives. We give thanks to God for the love of our parents, our siblings, guardians, grandparents and extended family. We remember at different times of life how much they did for, and gave to, us.
Through the difficulties of family life today the role of our local community of faith is to support family life of all kinds.
At Christmastime we heard that ‘Joseph took the child and his mother’. This is an image of care and love.
This is the message of love in the Gospels and the central message in celebrating the feast of Mary, as Mother of God today.
Image by Dorothée QUENNESSON from Pixabay
Ronan Barry
