Happy Birthday, Mother Mary!

Sisters and brothers in Christ, today is the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Just as the angel Gabriel said to Mary, at the Annunciation (Luke 1:30), the angel said to Saint Joseph: ". . .do not be afraid. . ." These words of the angel got me thinking of young parents expecting their first child and parents expecting another child. I reflect on their courageous "yes" even in times of uncertainty and challenge. Just as Mary and Joseph gave God their "yes" and trusted in His plan for them, knowing in their hearts that "God is with them". For indeed, "God is with us" - Emmanuel.

In Mother Mary, we see these words of Saint Paul lived out in her own life and in who she is: ". . . those he predestined he also called; and those he called he also justified; and those he justified he also glorified. . ." God chose Mary to be the Mother of God and our Mother. He protected Mary from the stain of original sin and poured His grace into her. On the Cross, Christ gave his Mother to us to be our Mother. And when Mary's time on earth ended, He crowned her Queen of heaven and earth.

Through Mary and with her help, we find our way to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because, in her humility, her "soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and her spirit rejoice in God my Savior". Mary points us to her Son and tells, "Do whatever he tells you" (John 2:5). Therefore, as Fr. Charlie said in his homily, the greatest birthday gift that we can give Mother Mary is to know her Son, to have a personal encounter with Jesus and love him as Mary loves him.

Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise; from you rose the sun of Justice, Christ our God. Happy Birthday, Mother Mary!

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Gospel of the Day

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:
    Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
        and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.”