The story of the shepherds opens the New Year for all of us. We go back to the first Christmas night when the shepherds are out in the field to pasture their flock. Generally unschooled and “unchurched,” the shepherds as a group are pushed to the margins of society. But it is to them that the good news of the Savior’s birth is revealed by God. It happens on a typical night when the shepherds have brought their sheep out to the field so they can feed on the grass.

That particular night turns out to be different and distinct from all other nights. A multitude of heavenly host appear and illumine the night sky as they proclaim, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests” (Lk 2:14). Angels in the heavens and shepherds on land are connected by the good news of the Savior’s birth! But why does God choose shepherds to carry such good news to Mary and Joseph? A heavenly message is entrusted to people with coarse hands and lips! Such is the wisdom and ways of God, very much unlike human thoughts.

How else can we explain the choice of Mary to be the mother of the Savior other than through the mysterious ways of God and by his infinite wisdom! The young girl from Nazareth is already betrothed to Joseph when the angel from heaven asks her consent to be the mother of Jesus.

It is made clear to her that this infant will be God’s Son. He will inherit David’s throne, and his Kingdom will be without end. Mary is willing to cooperate with God’s plan no matter how deep and mysterious this plan may be. She is not given all the details of God’s plan, but at every step of the way Mary ponders everything in her heart; she is willing to put her complete trust in God. Mary is not accustomed to a privileged life, but maybe she has also wondered why the Savior has to be born in a very difficult and humiliating place like the feeding trough for animals. Later, King Herod will threaten to kill the Child so he has to be relocated to faraway Egypt. During his public ministry, people will remark that Jesus makes everything well. Yet Mary will stand by the foot of Jesus’ cross. As Mary stands at the foot of the cross, she must have asked where did Jesus go wrong? Yet at Calvary Mary will continue to ponder everything in her heart. She recollects all her memories and knows that Jesus’ Kingdom is not of this world. Her thoughts will have gone back to that night when the shepherds rush to tell her about the angels and their song. Mary’s heart is emboldened with hope.

At Calvary, Jesus gives his own Mother to us to be our mother. She is the same mother who will help us summon new strength and confidence as we embark on another exciting adventure this new year. Like in the past, everything will be far from simple or easy. There will be highs and lows in our experiences this year, but we are assured that everything about us will be in the hands of God. With the support of Mary’s prayers and the light that scatters the darkness in our lives, we can hurdle all challenges and manage to reach safely back to the shore amidst the storms of life.

The Lord said to Moses: “Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them: This is how you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them: The Lord bless you and keep you!

The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!

The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!

So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

“May God bless us in his mercy.”

Brothers and sisters: When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. As proof that you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir, through God.

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.

Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.