Mary, Mother of God

In today's Gospel, “The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary, Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what the shepherds told them. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.”

Often church considers the stories of the past as part of (what is called) its holy legacy. We continue to read these stories aloud every time we gather because we believe they're also guideposts for our journey in faith. But Scripture is not the only sacred story given to us. We have at our disposal our own story, given to us by God and inspired with wisdom and symbols, and teaching that it is our task to ponder and unravel.

It's essential for us to stop and contemplate the mysteries of Christ and how he's at work, wishing our lives. People who don't stop and reflect on their journeys, as we know, are doomed to walk in circles through the same bleak scenarios until they do. All the wisdom of the ages is available to us - including the near and present revelation of our experiences as confirmation of the whole. No blessing is complete once we ponder its meaning and take it to heart.