Merry Christmas

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Merry Christmas!

Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus. With the Shepherds and the Magi we find him in the arms of Mary. That is where we should also place ourselves – in the arms of Mary.

Jesus said, “I have given you and example, that as I have done, so you do also.”

If we are supposed to live in imitation of Jesus, then where should we begin? Walking on water, preaching to the multitudes, raising the dead? Begin where Jesus did, as a small child in the arms of Mary.

Christmas shows us where Christ began. It also shows us where we must begin.

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Jesus was the 1st Person to Consecrate Himself to Mary

The very first thing the Son of God did to save the world was to

·       Entrust himself entirely to Mary,

·       to be a helpless embryo in her womb

·       a little child in her care.

·       Is it possible to depend upon on another person more than this?

As His mother, what did Mary do for Jesus?

·       Everything…By the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary conceived and gave birth to Jesus,

·       She nourished him, protected and provided for him,

·       educated and formed him,

·       intuited and prompted the beginning of his public ministry at Cana

·       stood by him at the Cross and laid him in the tomb.

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As Christians, what will Mary do for us?

·       Everything…

·       The Holy Spirit and Mary conceive and give birth to the life of Jesus in us through Baptism;

·       She will watch over, protect and provide for us;

·       Educate and form us in the likeness of Christ. 

·       Inspire and carry forth all that we do 

·       Walk with us as we carry our cross and support us at the moment of death: 

Then what should we do if we want to live in imitation of Jesus? Consecrate oneself entirely to Mary to be her little son or daughter.

I am all yours and all I have is yours, O dear Jesus, through Mary, my holy Mother.

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A small child does not worry.

He relies on his mother to think about and take care of everything.

If a child departs from his mother, then he must take care of everything, worry about everything. But if he remains close to his mother, well, that is all he needs to do – just remain close to her. For she will take care of all things and guide him in everything.

If you belong to Mary, when why do you worry.

St. Maximilian Kolbe writes: I see Mary everywhere; I see difficulties nowhere

When at times I am tempted to worry I immediately say to myself: silly one, why do you worry? Is this your work? If all belongs to the Immaculate, will she not attend to it? Then let her lead you.

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Christmas is the day to recommit to live like Jesus. Live in relationship with Mary your Mother.

Every day say to Mary, “I am all yours and all that is mine is yours.”

You belong to her. She who is your Mother is with you, always. Talk with her. Listen to her. Do whatever you think she is inspiring you to do. And do not worry. Little children do not worry.

Learn the lesson of the infant Jesus in the arms of Mary. Imitate him. Stay with her. This will take practice. You will forget and wander away and then you will worry. Simply begin again.