January 1 — Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God
"On the one hand [Mary] was just a girl, an immature and frightened girl who had the good sense to believe what an angel told her in what seemed like a dream. On the other hand, she was the mother of the Son of God, with faith enough to move mountains, to sing about the victories of her son as if he were already at the right hand of his father instead of a dollop of cells in her womb. … When we allow God to be born in us, there is no telling, no telling at all, what will come out."
— Barbara Brown Taylor, Mixed Blessings
Like Mary, each of us has been called by God to act, to say 'yes' despite fear and confusion.
Like Mary, we are called to let the light of God be born in us, and to trust in a grace beyond ourselves.
Anonymous
Pause
What are you being called to do that demands hoping in a grace beyond yourself?
Pray
God, who is hope, shine Your light in our darkness so that we may continue to build Your kingdom. Let us be reflections of Your brilliance, always working to make Your goodness known. In Your Holy Name we pray, Amen.