Celebrating family life | Seasonal Reflections
We complete the days of the Octave of Christmas with the celebration of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. There is much on which to meditate at Christmas time. At the center of our holiday excitement, there is a remarkable birth story. God came into our condition to dwell with us – to save us from a life without Him.
Within our family life, parents teach their baby about human warmth, comfort, and consolation. Babies draw out of their parents a depth of love and commitment of which they did not know they were capable.
When our children were infants, I can remember relatives asking, “Can I hold the baby?” There’s something about holding babies that is exhilarating, challenging, and comforting all at once. New parents are somewhat cautious about the baby-holding skills of others. It takes trust in the ability of the holder.
The Christmas story compels us to examine our trust in God and His trust in us.
Mary, Mother of the Lord, witnesses complete trust rooted in faith and expressed in joy. She bears God’s self-expression of love for all the human family.
“My spirit rejoices in God my savior.” (Luke 1:47)
“For in him our hearts rejoice; in his holy name we trust.” (Psalm 33:21)
Human beings are capable of great tenderness and heroic generosity. It is God’s loving design that we can choose to care for one another.
The Mystery of God taking on our humanity, becoming one of us, draws us into the powerful tenderness and gracious generosity of God. He gives Himself into our care to help us recognize the exhilarating, challenging, and comforting love He has placed within us. He brings us to Himself.
We ask Mary and Joseph, “Can we hold the baby?” Our joy is to hold onto Him within our hearts, our families, and our world. We care for Him in everyone we meet, in all who are in need; we see Him in every human face and vulnerability.
“And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” (Luke 2:19)
Let us ask God’s Spirit to guide our reflection on the joy, faith, and trust born into our family life.