Nativity of Mary
Friends in Christ, it is a fun thing to celebrate birthdays. Little children especially, but everyone should see their birthday as a day for rejoicing. It is very true, that every single person, you and I, are needed, as part of God’s world, as part of God’s plan. Each unique person is foreseen by God to play a particular role in the drama of creation.
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And while this is all true, we celebrate a birthday today for which this is abundantly true. Today is the birthday of Mary. In the case of this dear Blessed Virgin, if she had not been born – well, God’s plan of salvation could not have unfolded as he wished. But God had a plan from all of Eternity.
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We see the genealogy given today, all the way back to Abraham. Scholars believe that St. Matthew’s genealogy is tracing the line of St. Joseph, while St. Luke’s genealogy is tracing the family line of Mary, to show us that Mary also is a descendent of David. In any case, we see that God had this all worked out from day one, that this holy and sinless virgin would become the Mother of God, and therefore, our Mother as well.
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Mary had to endure a lot for us; she gave up her only Son. St. Alphonsus says that if there was a dear son of a mother, and in order to save a young man, he allowed himself to be charged with the crime and imprisoned for 20 years, in that man’s place – how much that mother would value that young man, whose freedom her son had obtained.
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Because we have all been redeemed and saved from our crimes by the Son of Mary, her love for us is immense.
Cornelius Lapide says that Our Mother desires for us better things than we can even desire ourselves. He recommends a practice that some do: they say to the Lord, ‘Lord, grant me those things that the Virgin Mary asks for me.’ In other words, putting all in her hands, let her decide what is best.
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A parishioner told me that her little 4 year old granddaughter placed some flowers carefully at the statue of Mary in their yard, and since she had to leave, she said, ‘Gramma,’ you can’t take them, they’re for Mary!’
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Today for sure, all is for you Mary. Happy birthday!
