BEGINNING THE NEW YEAR IN TRUST WITH MARY
As Advent draws to a close and a new year begins, the Church invites us not into urgency or resolutions, but into stillness, blessing, and trust. On this feast of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, today’s readings call us to slow down and root ourselves in God’s faithful presence.
Today’s first reading offers a blessing fitting for the new year: “The Lord bless you and keep you… the Lord let His face shine upon you and give you peace.” This blessing does not promise certainty or easy answers, but presence. It reminds us that whatever lies ahead, God goes before us and remains with us.
January 1 is my mother’s birthday. Her name is Maria de Jesus. Like Mary in the Gospel, my mother is patient and deeply rooted in faith. She has carried the faith of our family quietly, with consistency and trust.
Trusting God is something I struggle with. In early 2024 when I had surgery on my wrist, I felt anxious and afraid. Sitting with that fear, my mother simply said, “A person of faith should never be afraid.” Her calm, steady trust reminded me of where my faith needed to be. She often tells me, “Denny, have more faith.” Those words challenge me, but they also comfort me, inviting me to place my fears into God’s hands.
In today’s Gospel, we hear that “Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” This is faith rooted in trust, the courage to live with unanswered questions. This is a posture I see in Mary and in my own mother - one I am still learning.
As we begin this new year, may we start as Mary did, slowing down, listening, and trusting God. May we be rooted in Christ’s love and strengthened in faith, especially in moments of uncertainty.
Mary, Mother of God, help me begin this new year in trust. Teach me to listen, to wait, and to place my fears in God’s hands.
Denny Hernandez
Photo credit: “The Virgen in Prayer” by Giovanni Battista Salvi da Sassoferrato