Hello out there and Happy New Year!
Last night, Jim and I went to the 6:30 pm Mass at our parish. It was such a blessing to see so many families and people at Mass on New Year's Eve. Jim is an usher and he said they counted about 340 people! I'm a numbers nerd, so I immediately thought about all the churches near and far and the number of people who were at Mass last night! What a blessing! I love seeing the babies and the toddlers with their parents! I'm always filled with an abundance of hope when I've been to Mass.
Yesterday morning, Jim pointed out the meditation in the Magnificat, our daily devotional. It was written by Pope Benedict XVI. The title of the meditation is "Praising God at the End of the Year" The entire meditation is written with so much wisdom, trust, faith and knowledge. I circled one paragraph that really opened my eyes. So many times we don't see the goodness, the compassion, the love that is all around us because that's not what makes the news or the headlines.
The paragraph I'm sharing is on page 470 in the December 2025 Magnificat, Vol. 27, No. 10
At times of course it is hard to understand this profound reality, because evil is noisier than goodness. An atrocious murder, widespread violence, grave forms of injustice hit the headlines, whereas acts of love and service, the daily effort sustained with fidelity and patience, are often left in the dark, they pass unnoticed.
In this meditation he also said, "However the year went, whether it was easy or difficult, barren or fruitful, let us give thanks to God." My response is, Amen and Amen!
On Sunday, December 28th, we celebrated the feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Meditating on the scriptures of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary has touched my heart so deeply.
The First Joyful Mystery is the Annunciation: Luke 1:26-38
The Angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the
virgin's name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace!
The Lord is with you." But she was greatly troubled at what was said and
pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her,
"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you
will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God
will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house
of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end."
But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with
a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon
you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child
to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth,
your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth
month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God."
Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me
according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.
The Second Joyful Mystery of the Rosary is the Visitation
Luke 1:39-43
Thereupon Mary set out, proceeding in haste into the hill country to a town of
Judah, where she entered Zechariah's house and greeted Elizabeth. When
Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was
filled with the Holy Spirit and cried out in a loud voice: "Blest are you
among women and blest is the fruit of your womb. But who am I that the
mother of my Lord should come to me?
I'm adding the next two verses from Luke 1:44,45
The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby leapt in my womb for joy.
Blest is she who trusted that the Lord's words to her would be fulfilled."
The Third Joyful Mystery is The Birth of Jesus - Luke 2:7
She gave birth to her firstborn Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and
laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Fourth Joyful Mystery is The Presentation - Luke 2:22-23
When the days were completed for their purification according to the law
of Moses, they took Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, just
as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb
shall be consecrated to the Lord."
I'm adding the following scriptures that go with the Presentation -Luke 24-35
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, Saying:
"Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel."
The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
The Fifth Joyful Mystery is Finding the Child Jesus in the Temple - Luke 2:46
After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the
teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
On this first day of 2026 I pray for families everywhere and share these thoughts that come to my mind and help me to see the quiet humility, the love, patience, and fortitude that surpasses the noise if we open our eyes and our hearts to the light of Christ.
The families who take care of each other through good times and bad times. The aunts and uncles who step in as needed to lend their support.
The moms and dads who walk the floor at night with a colicky baby and wipes the face of their child who has thrown up. Those who teach their children to pray, and who comfort them when they are afraid. Parents who stay up praying when their teenage or young adult child have missed curfew or who have grown distant.
The adult child who lovingly takes care of an aging parent who may or may not remember their name.
The parents of a child who has a life threatening illness, or a diagnosis that is hard to accept. And the parents of a child who has passed away from illness or tragedy.
Single moms and single dads who do the very best they can to be both parents for their children.
The grandparents who are raising their grandchildren whatever the reason may be.
The list goes on and on if you think about all the daily struggles, the goodness, the kind acts, the love that is all around us if we look for the light in our families and in society. The following are a few examples of other ways we help one another. I'm sure you have your own that you can add to this list. We are blessed with so many places that feed the hungry, hand out groceries and clothing to those in need, offer counseling and guidance. Pregnancy help/resource centers that offer free services to not only unwed mothers but all mothers in need. All these ministries have people who are there to serve one another and who do so without pay.
I know that God sees all things and if we read the scriptures we understand that He is with us through it all, God is with us. Don't let the noise block the light - pray for strength to be the light that silences the noise.
Peace, light, and blessings to you and yours,
near and far,
wherever you are!
Bye for now, Sharla
