As we enter the New Year with Advent and Christmas day now behind us, we are likely breathing a sigh of relief that all the exhausting and expensive holiday activities are also behind us. We are probably looking ahead to the new year with fresh hopes and resolutions. All of this is quite normal. But today’s readings remind us that maybe we should not be so quick to move away from Advent and Christmas. Rather, one of our resolutions for the new year needs to be to keep the message of Christmas in our hearts throughout the entire year. And in today’s Gospel from Luke we have the perfect model for helping us to do just that in Mary. First, we learn that Mary “kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.” Mary “ponders” in the deepest sense about the miracle that has just happened to her of giving birth to the Son of God. She was treasuring the divine gift that God had just delivered. Pondering is neither a quick nor fleeting reaction. It requires patience and quiet time alone. Understanding and faith grow only with time and grace. Are we allowing time in our lives to contemplate in prayer the miracles God has placed in our lives? Secondly, we gain insight into Mary’s continued obedience to God’s plan. She named her Son Jesus as instructed by the angel. She had Him circumcised in accord with Jewish law. Mary gave herself over to the will of God. And she never wavered, even throughout the crucifixion and death of her Son on a cross. May we too strive to follow God’s will even when we don’t understand why things happen and why we must face sufferings rather than joy. Remember what God wants from me so often is not what I expected. Ask Mary in prayer and especially in the Rosary to help us to ponder in our hearts the miracle of God’s love and his will for each of us. It is never too late to follow Mary’s example and keep the spirit and joy of Christmas alive in our hearts.