When we see the crib at Christmas time, and when we contemplate the shepherds, they are usually very poor, attractive, respectable people, carrying their little lambs; but history tells us that this was not the reality. In Jesus’ time, shepherds were one of the lowest classes, they were sometimes involved in crime, and they had a bad reputation. They were never invited anywhere.  Yet when the Son of man was born, the first people to be invited were shepherds; the people nobody wanted.  Jesus came for everybody, but he wanted to make one thing clear; the poor, the disadvantaged and even the sinners, would always have a special place in his heart.  Every human person could always say: Jesus came for me.  In today’s gospel, we see how the shepherds are called to Bethlehem, and they go immediately.  And there they find a king, not a man in a palace, but a little baby in a manger, their hearts are filled with joy and with hope.   They can say: he is one of us; the king is one of us.  Then they return to the hills telling everyone on the way what they had seen.  They were no longer just shepherds, but messengers of the good news.  St. Luke tells us this story, so that we too, can be enthusiastic witnesses, who bring the good news wherever we go, with our kindness and our love.  Today the first of January is also the first day of a new year, that will be filled with opportunities and challenges.  It is a great moment to renew our commitments as followers of Jesus Christ and messengers of this good news. It is also the feast of the Mother of God, and our mother Mary.  Let us ask Mary to accompany us every day of this new year, then this new year will be filled with peace and happiness for all of us. Let’s close with a prayer: God our Father, on this feast of Mary the Mother of God, give us an appreciation of the many gifts you have given us during the past year. Help us bless you in return during the coming year by sharing some of our gifts with others who have far, far less than we do.