“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” (Lk 10: 41-42)

Mary and Martha are inside of every one of us. It is easier for us to think that prayer is “doing nothing” and action is something that we really “do.” Our Lord gives us Mary as an example as a person who “has chosen the better part.” This month we are especially invited to pray, together with Our Lady, on the Rosary, where action and contemplation are united, something for Mary and something for Martha at the same time.

“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” (Entrance Antiphon)

“He was told, ‘Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.’ He said to them in reply, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.’” (Lk 8: 20-21)

We are connected with people by blood or marriage, by education or profession, by workplace or birthplace, by parish or prayer group and in many other ways. With Our Lord we are also connected in many ways: as God’s children, as participants in His Body and Blood, and incorporated into His Holy Church; by listening to the Word of God and by acting on it. Our Lord is looking for any occasion to make us members of His family – the important ones, like His mother or brother.

“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eye.” (Lk 6: 42)

To be able to see clearly “the splinter” in our brother’s eye, we have to remove “the wooden beam” from our own eyes. Only when we are in the habit of making a daily examination of our conscience, can we help our brothers. The best ever help is Our Lady—I can ask her for help to “remove the wooden beam from my eye” and then, ask her to “remove the splinter” from my brother’s eye. She can do it in truth, in a very delicate way, with compassion and tenderness.

“Your word, O Lord, is truth; consecrate us in the truth.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“…His mother kept all these things in her heart.” (Lk 2:51)

She “kept all these things” not in her memory, not in a notepad, but in her heart. The best way to have the access not only to the story line, but also to the meaning and Author. God’s word does not bring information, news and interpretation of the situation in the world, but brings the word of life and guidance to the eternal life.

“Blessed is the Virgin Mary who kept the word of God and pondered it in her heart.” (Gospel Acclamation)

“…name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us!” (Is 7:14)

From today on He will be with us. Hidden in His Mom’s womb, under Her heart. At this moment, only she knows about Him. Nine months later He will appear to the world.
The most intimate relationship between the mother and child. This is His beginning in this world. God, who came to meet us and save us, came in the most spectacular way. As a child, as a member of the family.

Every mother knows how unique and special this time is. And today we are invited to keep Him in our hearts, to let Him grow in me and show Himself through my life.

“The Word of God became flesh and made his dwelling among us; and we saw his glory.” (Verse before the Gospel)

“…took his wife into his home” (Mt 1:24)

Simple words and a simple action. “Took his wife into his home”. Such a special moment in every couple’s life. New beginning, new responsibility, new identity. His home will be home for the Holy Family, a place where Jesus spend 30 years enjoying simple family life based on love, respect, devotion and work. Celebrating feast of St. Joseph we think about simplicity, dedication, humility and closeness beyond imagination. The Holy Family life. Home, where we are invited.

I found in my “Magnificat”: “To other saints our Lord has given power to help in one sort of need, but this glorious saint, as I know by experience, helps us in every need” (according to St. Teresa of Avila).

“Blessed are those who dwell in your house, o Lord; they never cease to praise you”. (Verse before the Gospel)

“As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.” (Lk 2:19)

We are starting the New Year. At its beginning we entrust all this coming year to the care of the Mother of God. We believe that She will take care of us, as She took care of Her Son. If God trusted Her this much, how could we not follow in His footsteps?

Today, we would like to place, in a very special way, each day of the time ahead of us in the Heart of Our Lady, Mother of God.

If we do it, we will get every day back not from “life”, circumstances, cruel and  heartless people, bad moods, complicated situations, but from … Her. And She, as a the best Mother in the world, will look after us.

Please remember that in every moment of your life, God is always waiting for you first – and not difficulties or troubles. God is always there in your life, BEFORE any situation you have to face. “…you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir, by God’s own act.” (Gal 4:7).

“What, then, will this child be?” (Lk 1:66)

The basic concern of every parent. What, then, will this child be? Specially if our child is delicate and sensitive and needs a little bit more attention then other children.

Have you got any idea how stressful it could be for parents to know something about God’s plan for him or for her? Think about Elisabeth and Zachariah: “even from his mother’s womb he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, and he will bring back many of the Israelites to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah, he will go before him to reconcile fathers to their children and the disobedient to the good sense of the upright, preparing for the Lord a people fit for him.“ (Lk 1, 15-17); or about Mary and Joseph. This is your son and the Son of God, “he will save his people from their sin” (Mt 1, 21). Take care of Him. Prepare Him for the future. Prepare your son to His role.

What they did as parents? They did nothing special. Jesus spent thirty years in normal family life. No special schools for very talented children future Redeemer of the world! “He went down with them then and came to Nazareth and lived under their authority… And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and with people.. (Lk 2, 51-52). Maybe this is a good advertisement for home schooling. 😉

How often do we think about profession, some important role. Can we prepare our child to be e.g. president of the country? What we think is important for the future of our children we will give them. The majority will think about education. As good as possible. The best kindergarten, the best primary school, high school, college, university. The better education we’ll give the better career they will have.

Others will think about giving them a good start in life through covering all the basic needs, like apartment with good equipment, car, some savings for nice vacations or other needs. And so…

Do we remember that our child is not ours. She or he is a miracle, a gift from God. Our child IF IT BELONGS to anybody, belongs only to God. Remembering about this is the most important “education” and “good start” for our child.

And even if our child becomes a president of our country or Apple or Google CEO, at the same time probably he or she will be a husband or wife.

So, what we really can do for the best future for our children is to help them understand and believe that he/she is a miracle, a wonderful gift from God, always loved and always worthy.

The other thing we can do is to show them how to protect our love in the family, how to respect a woman, how to take care of our relationship.

With prayer for you

Fr. Jay