A professor threw a congee party for his students. He gave them different serving bowls: beautiful porcelain, wood, and a few plastics.

The students chose the more expensive bowls. The professor asked, “Was the congee more delicious because it’s in a nicer container?” They answered, “No, if the congee’s delicious, then it will be delicious regardless of the container.”

That’s when he gave the lesson: “The bowls represent our physical life—our homes, clothes, and what people say about us. It doesn’t have to be expensive and sophisticated. Because inside—the most important thing—is the lugaw. That’s who we really are.”

As we welcome another year, let me remind you about these two things. Number one: You are a soul carrier. Inside that bowl is your immortal soul, and you will live forever.

Number two: You’re also a God carrier. Because you are a child of God. Always remember that nothing can ever take away who you truly are. Bo Sanchez (bosanchez@kerygmafamily.com)

reflect

Declare this truth: “I am a child of God. I am precious in His eyes. I am loved.”

Father, bless my new year. May I shine Your light as Your child in all circumstances. Amen.

Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.

First Reading | Numbers 6:22-27

The Lord is the source of all blessings. Yes, we can be a blessing to one another, but this is only possible if we draw from our relationship with God. He is the source of all good things. We cannot achieve goodness or blessing apart from His grace. Let us continue to trust God even if we cannot feel His presence because He is always at work in us.

²² The Lord said to Moses: ²³ “Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them: This is how you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them: ²⁴ The Lord bless you and keep you! ²⁵ The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! ²⁶ The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace! ²⁷ So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

R: May God bless us in his mercy.

² May God have pity on us and bless us; may he let his face shine upon us. ³ So may your way be known upon earth; among all nations, your salvation. (R) ⁵ May the nations be glad and exult because you rule the peoples in equity; the nations on the earth you guide. (R) ⁶ May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you! ⁸
May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear him! (R)

Second Reading | Galatians 4:4-7

Paul believes that God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts. Do you believe that God has adopted you as His child? It is hard to believe that God will be able to complete the work of redemption in our lives. Let us trust that He is always at work to fulfill His promise of redemption.

⁴ Brothers and sisters: When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, ⁵
to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. ⁶ As proof that you are sons, God sent the
Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” ⁷ So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir, through God.

Gospel | Luke 2:16-21

Let us give praise to God in every moment of our lives. Yes, we are all sinners. However, the truth is, we can put sin to death and surrender completely to God’s will. Having a New Year’s resolution is good, but the problem is it usually rests on our own desire and strength to fulfill it. Let us remember that when we are fully surrendered to the work of God’s grace, we will live a life of goodness and virtue.

Gospel Acclamation

In the past, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.

¹⁶ The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. ¹⁸ All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. ²⁰ Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. ²¹ 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.

Surprised by Grace

When people come for retreats or spiritual direction, the first thing I ask of them as they begin their spiritual journey is to prepare themselves to be surprised by grace. They do this by committing to the following dispositions:

1. Generosity, because the wider we open our hearts to others, the more God’s Spirit can flow into our persons. God is infinite goodness, but we are finite vessels. He who seeks grace, therefore, must learn to enlarge one’s vessel, and that is be done by living generously.

2. Attentiveness to the Holy Spirit, because it will be the Spirit, no less, who will accompany and cheer us on in our spiritual journey. Daily prayers and ponderings that allow us to look back, give thanks, embrace mercy, and be more mindful of the patterns of our lives and stirrings of our hearts will teach us this attentiveness to the Spirit’s actions and invitations.

3. Humility, because we will need to learn to let go—and not be in control—in order to reverence and trust God who is. At the beginning of this new year, we can take on the same dispositions to prepare our hearts for the Lord. Today, we remember that these dispositions are so clearly manifested by Mary, our Mother and the Mother of God. Perhaps that is why God allowed her the greatest of all surprise graces—the opportunity to bear and give birth to Grace Incarnate.

May the Lord bless and keep you, and be gracious to you in 2022! Fr. Mark L. Lopez, S.J.

reflection questions

How can you become a more generous person in 2022? How can you be more attentive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit? How can you be more humble in your dealings with others and with God?

Dearest God, may Your Spirit fill me with grace every day of this year. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ______________________________