December 23, 2022 Reflection – Now there were Shepherds in that region…
Merry Christmas from Mary TV December 23, 2022 Dear Family of Mary! As I write to you this last reflection for the week, the wind outside is howling, the temperature is dropping to the single digits, and the snow is whiling around our little house. There is a blizzard approaching our area. But Denis and I are tucked safely in our home. We also have Covid, both of us! So we will be isolated from family and friends this Christmas. And we won’t even be able to go to Holy Mass! But Our Lady has not left us alone. She is with us in every Rosary we pray. And we have Mary TV to connect us to the events at St. James Parish as well! Especially the beautiful events on Christmas Eve. Know that we will be praying for all of you, dear shipmates! Please join us as we worship the coming of our Savior: Here is the list of live events for Christmas Eve in Medjugorje: (local time in Medjugorje) 3.00pm Hour of Mercy[LIVE] 4.00pm Daily Rosary [LIVE] 5.00pm Evening Program (Holy Mass and Rosary) [LIVE] 8.30pm Cenacolo Nativity Play CANCELED !!! 10.00pm Christmas Eve Mass [LIVE] I love the Holy Gospel we read at the midnight mass on Christmas Eve. Let’s read it together in preparation. No matter our circumstances this Christmas, we know that we have a Savior. We know that He became Man for us to save us. We know that Mary is His Mother. And we know that one day we will see Him face to face. We are so loved. There is nothing to fear. The Savior is born. Luke 2:1-14 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and 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. Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest/ and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” The Gospel of the Lord. Amen and Amen!! We are all shepherds. We are the little ones to whom the Father sent His Angels, so excited to share the great news of the birth of His Son! He couldn’t keep it quiet. But He knew who to tell! Simple, poor, humble shepherds who smelled like their sheep! These were the lowly ones. The Father told them first!! He always chooses the lowly! The Father is choosing you and me this Christmas to share His great joy at the Birth of His Son!!! We are so blessed, so loved indeed!! As Our Lady said to us: December 2, 2008 “Dear children; In this holy time of joyful expectation, God has chosen you little ones to realize His great intentions. My children, be humble. Through your humility, God, with His wisdom, will make of your souls a chosen home. You will illuminate it with good works and thus, with an open heart, you will welcome the birth of my Son in all of His generous love. Thank you dear children.” In Jesus, Mary and Joseph! Cathy Nolan (c) Mary TV 2022