“So they went in haste 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.” (Luke 2:16-21 NABRE)
The shepherds in today’s Gospel immediately sought out the Lord when they had been told about His birth. They went to find Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and upon doing so, they shared their story with others about having received a message regarding Jesus’ birth, and about finding Him as the message was told to them.
Today is the beginning of a new calendar year. We should allow this new beginning to motivate us to grow in our spiritual lives. May the start of this new year refresh and reinvigorate us to seek out the Lord zealously and in haste, just like the shepherds in today’s Gospel. The shepherds did not hesitate upon receiving the message from the angel, nor did they procrastinate or put off going to find Jesus. Rather, they immediately directed themselves towards finding the Savior.
Further, once they found Jesus, they shared with others their amazing testimony and glorified God.
How often do we procrastinate in our relationship with the Lord? Do we allow ourselves to become distracted from Him? Do we share our faith with others, or do we keep it to ourselves? Do we praise and glorify God for His active presence in our lives?
We must follow the example of the shepherds by resolving to find Jesus in our lives and to grow closer to Him. We must share our faith with others, and offer endless praise and thanksgiving to God.
May we resolve to spend this new year seeking out the Lord in prayer, in the Mass, in His word, in Eucharistic Adoration, etc. And may we remove from our lives anything that obstructs us from the Savior. Let us strive to follow the example of the shepherds this new year!