The first day of a new year, and a new decade! Always a time when we consider the future, and how we want our lives to be. Of course, there are lots of things we cannot control, but one thing we can control comes to mind when we read today's Gospel, where we are told that Mary kept in her heart and reflected on the things that the shepherds had told her they had learned from the angels about Jesus. So much for her to consider-- that Jesus was a "savior" who was "Messiah and Lord." What did that mean? How could that be true? How did that make Mary feel, as mother of such a son? Those things on which we reflect, which we keep in our hearts, become a part of us. They color our perspectives and inform our opinions. To slightly-modify a common expression, we are what we think. So as we start the new year, we might consider what want to hold in our hearts this year. Do we want to hold anger, frustration, revenge, a sense of victimization? Should we focus on those things that have gone wrong, or the people who have failed us? Will we spend our time holding in our hearts all the ways that the Church has failed us, all the problems with the abuse crises and such? Or will we hold in our hearts what Mary held in hers-- that Jesus is Messiah and Lord, the savior? There shouldn't be any doubt as to which thoughts will serve us better in the coming year.