fell down and worshiped him.” — Matthew 2:11
Ask any mother and she will tell you that birthing a child is no easy task. Like all pregnant women, Mary had to give herself to this new physical and emotional experience as it unfolded in her life. In Mary’s case, the setting for the birth of Jesus was less than ideal, for it took place in a stable surrounded by barnyard animals. But I suspect that Mary’s experience of birthing faded away to utter peace and tranquility as she gently held and caressed Jesus in her arms for the first time.
As people of faith, Mary’s life inspires us to seek God’s peace in the midst of the ordinary and hectic moments of our everyday lives. She shows us that when we give ourselves fully to God’s will, the result is peace.
— Sharon A. Abel, PhD
CONSIDER THE MANY WAYS that you might honor God each time you meet his divine presence on your spiritual journey.
Prayer: Mary, I thank God for your example of how to live in this world with a peaceful heart. Help me to look at the world today through new eyes, that I may seek and find the peaceful presence of the Christ Child.
January 7
“Great peace have those who love your law; / nothing can make them stumble.” — Psalms 119:165
When I was a parish music director, I was blessed to have my grandma’s dear friend Mabel in my choir. Mabel always did her best to honor God and always came with a cheerful disposition and a sense of peace about her. She loved the Lord! In time, Mabel lost her eyesight and dropped out of choir. Years later, I was blessed to join Mabel and her husband’s sixtieth anniversary celebration. Mabel beamed with joy. When I asked her how she was, she replied, “I’m wonderful!” That encounter made me wonder how anyone could be at peace with less than ideal circumstances.
The answer is visible in the life of Mary. Raised as a faithful Jew loving God’s law, Mary had the gift of peace. She knew the Lord’s heart, and it was a joy for Mary to make his law the hallmark of her life. No matter what hardships or stumbling blocks our Blessed Mother experienced, she remained at peace.
— Christine Grano
DO WE LOVE the law of the Lord? What might be our stumbling blocks to peace? Turn to Mary for inspiration and strength.
Prayer: Mary, intercede for us as we aspire to be like you, loving the law of the Lord that brings peace.
January 8
“Finally, brethren, rejoice. Mend your ways, heed my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.” — 2 Corinthians 13:11
In this reading, St. Paul encourages us to extend the peace of Christ to one another as brothers and sisters. In this broken world of ours, peace is not readily attainable; nor is it easily sustainable. What does peace look like for you? For our world?
While we may all have different ideas of what peace is and how it can be achieved, Mary invites us to look beyond our earthly realities. As our spiritual mother, Mary shows us how to put on the gift of the everlasting peace of Christ, obeying the commandment to love God and our neighbor.
— Lauren Nelson
THE NEXT TIME you are at Mass, focus on the kiss of peace. Truly pass on Christ’s peace by looking others in the eye and saying a prayer for them.
Prayer: Mary, help me to work for peace. Give me the strength to continue what you began.
January 9
“Do whatever he tells you.” — John 2:5
The Wedding at Cana is one of only a few Gospel stories in which we see Jesus and Mary interacting.
First-century Jewish culture placed a high value on family honor. The wedding celebration was the final step of the ritual marriage process. Running out of wine would have been more than an embarrassment; it would have been a loss of honor for both families.
Mary’s words to Jesus — “they have no wine” — display a compassionate concern for the host. Jesus’ reply, though, seems to lack any concern. Mary responds with peaceful confidence that Jesus will grant her unspoken request. She tells the servers to do whatever he tells you. In the end, they have an abundance of wine, and the host is honored for saving the best until last. Without saying much, a composed Mary quietly directs the action to its amiable resolution.
Mary’s example invites us to be at peace in our personal surrender to God’s will. It also implies that at times it may be uncomfortable to do so.
— Bob Frazee
IF YOU’RE AVOIDING something difficult in your life, pray to Mary for both courage and composure.
Prayer: Hail, Holy Queen, I pray to you for the courage to bring my needs and the needs of others to God and to peacefully accept what God has planned for me.
January 10
“You keep him in perfect peace, / whose mind is stayed on you, / because he trusts in you.” — Isaiah 26:3
Jen is a bubbly, outgoing, loving individual. I met her at the parish where her husband served as a deacon. Together, they have three beautiful children and a close extended family.
Jen’s life changed forever when her fifty-one-year-old husband died of cancer just days before their oldest daughter’s wedding. The following year, her mom died. And just about six months later, Jen’s forty-seven-year-old sister died of a heart attack, suddenly and without warning. In just two short years, Jen’s life was turned upside down. Yet, when we would talk, there was an incredible sense of peace she carried because of her deep faith in God.
Gabriel’s announcement to Mary disrupted her whole world. As a betrothed woman planning a life with Joseph, this was not what Mary thought her life would be. Yet, because of her deep faith in God, Mary was able to remain in peace as she walked a new and unfamiliar road. Mary is our inspiration to stay the course when life is not what we expect.
— Christine Grano
TAKE A MOMENT to recall a time when your life was significantly disrupted.
Prayer: Mary, you can understand fully when life does not go as planned. Pray for us that, in those times, we may receive peace by fixing our eyes on your Son and learn to trust his plan for us.
January 11
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give it to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” —John 14:27
Jesus warns us not to be fooled by the feelings of contentment that can accompany money, power, fame, or success. These do not bring us lasting peace. True peace comes from being in relationship with Our Lord. Jesus can give us peace and restore peace when our souls are troubled. His presence can calm our fears and help us when we meet obstacles in life.
In spite of many hardships, our Blessed Mother lived each day with a peaceful heart, because she and Jesus were united in mind and spirit. As the mother of Our Lord, Mary seeks to walk with us on our spiritual journey. She
