Gospel Reflections for New Years Day 2017
“Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.”
You might remember that this is written at the bottom of rear-view mirrors in your car. For whatever reason, car manufacturers made mirrors that slightly change the view we have looking behind us.
Of course, we keep our eyes on the road ahead, but every now and then, it is good to catch just a quick look behind. That enhances our “situational awareness” and is a good safety habit.
That is not a bad habit in life as well. Most of the time we are thinking ahead and how we can prepare for it; nothing wrong with that. But many people don’t like to look back at all. I can understand that as well.
Mary had every reason to not look back. She had a remarkable year of profoundly life-changing events, many of which she could not possibly understand: a visit from an angel, a miraculous conception coupled with scorn from neighbors for having a child of uncertain origin, a long hard ride to Bethlehem, a difficult birth in a stable, and visits from both shepherds and wise men. What could it all mean? Many would be tempted to just “put it all behind and move forward.”
The Gospel indicates that, “Mary treasured all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” Notice it does not say she understood any of them, but she would not forget them either. They were important events, and even though they were not perfectly clear, she knew one day they would, and so she “treasured” and “pondered” them.
That is often how we discover the will of God in our life. We often can’t see the larger picture or meaning of immediate events. It is only in looking back over a whole range of events that we can see patterns emerge. We see how this event led to that event which led to meeting this person which led to this new event, which brought us to this day. Ironically, it is in wise reflection that we find the wisdom to go forward.
Every Mass reminds you that God so loved you that He sent His Son to be with you. His loving presence gives you the courage to remember events even when you made mistakes. Treasure even those, and ponder them, so that the New Year will be different.
Events in the past are closer than they appear. Treasure and ponder them and discover God’s hand in them, and then you will truly have a Happier New Year!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Thanks for this wonderful insight. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve definitely seen the value of looking back and am amazed at some of the life events and their sequencing, and how it ultimately shaped both my decisions and where I am today.
Within that look back, I’ve had chances to be grateful for not always saying/doing some of the things I might have, which could have hurt myself and others. It has given me perspective on how my words and actions, moving forward, might help or harm someone else.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I am glad you also find looking back helpful.
Well, now days we have rear-looking TV cameras on our vehicles, and with a little technical skill you could put a video recorder on the camera. That would make remembering where we have been easier. And we have amazing cameras on our cell phones so that we can remember all sorts of past events. I see what you mean: looking back at where we came from can inspire us to do better or to try new things. We might even make a New Year’s Resolution accordingly.
Well said!
Happy New Year Fr Dave. Barbara and I always appreciate and enjoy your insights. Best, Argyle
Happy New Year!
Dear Father Dave,
Yes, your comments/metaphor certainly embrace a deep-abiding truth, which is especially meaningful for today, the last hours of 2016. Hopefully, 2017 will be a year of peace and grace for the world.
I’ve been thinking a great deal about Mary’s life as a child, leading up to the visitation and birth of Christ.
Do you think it’s possible (since Mary was born without original sin) that she had a remarkable, prayerful childhood? Perhaps she had earlier conversations with angels … either in real time or in play time. Perhaps God whispered his love to her daily. Perhaps the very air she breathed had more meaning to her than to anyone else in the world…. Her behavior must have been sweetened by the brilliance of heaven.
A life without sin is simply a life led with a lot of love, and that is not too hard to imagine. She must have been very easy to get along with too.
Yes, I suspect she radiated the love you mention in all aspects of her life.
Well said!
Happy new year father Dave,
Thank you for your end of the year insights, a reminder of what our heavenly mother is all about, thank you from all who are included in your prayers, they really make a difference, We are thankful to God and our Lord Jesus for everything provided to us throughout the year. May God Bless you and keep well.
God bless you and your family as well. Happy New Year!
Thank you Fr. Dave for the great reflection. You have a knack of tying it all together!
I especially like “Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart”
She listened and was attentive to God in what He was calling her to do.
Maybe we could reflect more on how God is directing our lives!
Another fresh New Year is here.
Another year to live!
To banish worry, doubt and fear,
To love, to laugh and give.
William Arthur Ward
Thanks for your thoughts, …and the poem too!
Loved your beautiful reflection Father Dave!!! What an amazing miracle life our Mary lived!! To be the mother of Jesus and to be the mother of God soooooooooooooooo incredibly beautiful!!! I love the song by the Pentonics” “Mary Did you Know.!!!!” “.Mary did you know that your baby boy would someday walk on water!! Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters!!!,,,… Mary did you know the blind would see, the deaf would hear, the dead will live again, the lame will leap,the dumb will speak the praises of the lamb… Mary did you know when you kissed your little baby, you kissed the face of God!!!!Mary’s life and Jesus’ life are a precious part of our beautiful background of life!!! Our Jesus and Mary live in us!!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it!!! Happy New Year and love your reflections and love you!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeee, franca and Dick
Yes, that is one of my favorite songs as well.
The perfect New Years sermon….Thank you Fr. Dave for saying it so clearly…Happy New Year to you. I look forward to your “pearls” of wisdom in my mailbox in 2017.
Happy New Year!
If I had to choose, your best Gospel Reflection yet. Thank you for the wisdom you impart.
I am glad I started off the new year well!
Your reflection brought back memories. When I was in the Inter-denominational church I would hear the faith message and couldn’t accept what they were saying. We know faith is not the promise that bad things won’t hap[pen if we confess properly. It is the fact that God will help us through it as we trust in Him. I remember when going to Bible College and listening to the teaching that it sounded awful Catholic to me (yep in the Old Testament). So through Fr. Jeff I read “fundamentalism vs Catholicism” and “Catholic and Christian” and wondered why this wasn’t taught before. But I was still a firm non-catholic. Then at a Protestant seminar during their praise and worship the Lord spoke to me to go back to the Catholic Church and asked the Lord what sin I committed that He was sending me there. I got only silence and went and complained to Fr. Jeff and he laughed and said he would hep me through this. So at the first mass I received a real blessing of seeing the old and new testament coming together in the mass and when the Priest put hands over the gifts I actually saw the Holy Spirit come down. That was a gift for being obedient.
There is a longer story to this but that is a synopsis of what happened. I came to a real loving of what the mass is about and about how real His presence is in Communion.
I somehow related this to Mary’s experience of blind faith in the Lord. Mary could have died physically, but actually she did die, she died to self. What an example we have of complete surrender.
Thanks Father Dave,
I just re-read this again today as I am making my new year resolutions. Iam finding easier to accept Mary’s decision as a woman -a young girl to accept wholeheartly all of God’s words without much questioning, other than “The no relationship part.” . Your words made me understand it more, that she continued to ponder them and willingly immediately accepted it. It helps me to realize over and over that all is in God’s hands. “Be still and know I am God” . I seized that and signed up for your Holy Land Tour after 6. Years of being retired and talking about it. So excited to finally make that decision and praying for a safe trip and that my husband with his diabetes can stay well on his own for 2 weeks. My friend in St Paschal ICf , Emma Mayer is going with me . Will there be an info meeting time with you, or will George’s Tour provide all the info for us?
Praying for peace in the new Year!
Filomena Shaw from St Paschal ICF and Holy Cross Church of Moorpark
Welcome aboard this year’s pilgrimage. We are meeting On January 21st at 11am at St. Rose of Lima Parish Hall. See you then!