PRAYER PAUSE

Monday 1 January 2018, Mary, Mother of God

SHINE ON YOU

Enter into the stillness of God within.

Reading: “May the Lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you!” (Numbers 6:22-27)

Reflection. There is something cleansing about passing from the old year to the new. The Secretary General of the United Nations gave poor marks to our performance last year. “We have regressed.” And surveying the world of 2017 it is easy to see what he means. But now we have a New Year and new hope and a new beginning. Can we let the Lord’s face shine on our world and our families, communities and personal lives? Can we let his look penetrate us as it penetrated Peter when he denied him three times “and the Lord turned and looked at Peter.” It was a look that plunged Peter into sorrow – and hope. There was no judgement in that look – just love and forgiveness. Can our world receive that look? Eight days after Christmas we think of Mary, that beautifull woman who received the gaze of God and accepted his will as her calling.

Prayer. Mary, Mother of God, pray for us that we may receive, the loving look of our Father and let it penetrate our being. Amen.