Eight days after Christmas, this Feast of Mary, Mother of the Church, Mother of God offers us the gospel of the Christmas night: the visit of the shepherds. There is haste in their desire to go and see. Haste is part of loving. “They found Mary and Joseph and the infant lying in the manger”, we read. They found the Child because they found the Mother. And we understand then why today this gospel was chosen for the Solemnity of the Mother of God. Mary is forever linked to her Son. Mary’s yes to God allows God’s manifestation in this Child. Mary manifests what happens to the whole humanity and to each of us when, like Mary, we say yes to God. We become children of God through our free yes, through our freedom and, like Mary, we give birth to God because we give him an image and likeness. I think that if we were more aware of this wonder, we will live more our lives in the beauty of this reality, getting rid of any negativity or comments that do not honor the gift of God.
The shepherds were the first to discover the Child who will change their life forever. It is why they made known the message told to them. A message that glorifies God and expands peace on earth. Peace is the theme of Pope Leo’s letter for this day that is also the Day of Peace. This Peace the Risen one uttered to his disciples on the Easter Day; it is his first words of Risen one: “Peace be with you”. A peace disarmed and disarming as the Passion reveals it. Peace born of love, a love till the end. Peace is already here; peace exists; it wants to dwell in us. It is up to us to nurture this peace in us, to radiate it. It is a journey, a presence, Pope Leo writes. And he gives some suggestions to live this peace: first have peace in ourselves, not weaponizing through thoughts and words; our community life is intense, and living together can make us pretend that we know the other one; so our comments, our negativity come easily when we are not in touch with this peace in us that comes from God. Each one is a Mystery, and each one is a journey. Let us have this infinite respect for this Mystery that each one is. Let be in awe before God’s love awaiting us.
On this first days of this New year, we exchange our wishes for the New year of joy, peace, happiness, courage, good health, all goods we strive to have. It is good to relate with the other with good will and good wishes. But we risk forgetting that God is the first to wish us a Happy New Year, already filled with the promised grace. He blesses us, makes his face shine upon us and is kind and it is he who is giving us peace. At the dawn of this New year, let us take seriously each day the love God shows to each of us and to our community, to our world. Let us strive for peace in our hearts, in the heart of the community and in the heart of the world. Let us rejoice in this God whose desire is that we become his dwelling place and let us strive to respond with our whole heart to this call to be.
Sr. Claire Bouttin, Superior
January 1, 2026
Chapter talk
