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TODAY’S WORD…

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Then Jesus said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”

And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

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– John 19:27 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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Jesus looks at us one by one: “Here is your mother” He says.

It is an invitation to all of us Christians to bring Mary unto our home, into our heart.

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There could be no better start to the year

than to go to our Heavenly Mother and resolve to be close to her.

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With the confidence of sons and daughters we go to her and invite her into our lives,

so that she may help us to live in holiness every day of the year;

so that she may give us the impulse to begin again each time we fall because we are so weak;

so that she may intercede with her divine Son to lead us to interior renewal,

and to strive to grow in the love of God

and in the service of our neighbour.

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We place in Mary’s hands our desire to identify ourselves with her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ;

to sanctify our work and all that we do;

to help us become truly faithful apostles…truly loving sons and daughters of God.

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We repeat her name with ever more fervour whenever difficulties arise,

and she, who is forever at the service of her Son,

when she hears her name on our lips, will come quickly to our rescue.

She will not leave us in error or in disunion.

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Today, therefore, each one of us can call out to her

and from deep inside our heart call her Mother, My Mother,

and feel that she is protecting us

and encouraging us to begin this New Year that God has given us

with the confidence that comes from knowing that we are well looked after

and that we are being given help from Heaven.

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Mother, My Mother full of grace,

pray for me a sinner, that I may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

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[*] Today’s reflection is sourced from the seven-volume work “In Conversation with God” by Padre Francisco Fernández Carvajal.