Today, on the Feast of the Mother of God and the World Day of Peace, Fr. Browning read the first Eucharistic Prayer as I knelt during Mass.  In it, he said, “he took it in his holy and venerable hands.”  Jesus blessed and broke the bread.  Jesus took the bread in his holy and venerable hands.  I could see him.  I could see his hands.  I was captivated by his holy and venerable hands as he raised the bread and gave it to those around him.

We receive Christ in our hands not long after this.  I thought how precious is this faith that I would hold in my hands.  I thought of this faith and saw a little bird in my hands.  Later when I reflected on this moment which seemed outside of time, I realized that this reminds me of my favorite Scripture and the song that I sang to my children:  Isaiah 49.  “Would a mother forget her baby or a woman the child within her womb, yet even if these forget, yes, even if these forget, I will never forget my own.”  God promised he would never forget me.  And I have the image of Mary holding her precious little baby in a lowly stable delighting in this miracle of life.

Parents hold there child’s heart and spirit in their hands like a little bird.
We hold our faith like that little bird, like a baby swaddled, tender and mild.

This year, why not have mercy on yourself and others.

Look to each person and even yourself as that little bird that needs food, a nest, and protection until it’s ready to fly.  This is faith.  It is trust in someone greater than ourselves.

We hold Christ in in our hands
He holds us in his hands
We hold others in our hands

And peace takes flight.

We all could use a little benefit of the doubt and another chance (maybe a hundred) to become the person we know we could be.

On this day, the World Day of Peace, in the wake of a baby born to change the world, resolve to think peace and be peace. This is a resolution you can keep!

Peace and good will to everyone!  Happy new year!