We may wonder why, for this Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, we read a passage of Scripture in which the main theme is apparently the story of the shepherds coming to look for the new-born Jesus. Would it not be better to read the story of the Annunciation when Mary received and accepted God's invitation to be the Mother of God? Yes, but in this passage we read about important aspects of the mystery of Mary.

The shepherds had to find Mary and Joseph in order to find Jesus who, just born, could only be found with Mary and Joseph. When they came, the Shepherds spoke about Jesus, recounting what they had been told about this child. Mary and Joseph were not the only ones who heard what the Shepherds had to say.

At different stages of our spiritual life we come to Jesus in different way and encounter him in different circumstances, in daily life in the church, on the Cross. At some stage we must come to Mary to find Jesus, for she was the one who "treasured all these things in her heart" and so is best able to tell us about Jesus.