Today we rejoice and celebrate the birth of the Mother of God
Reflections on the readings for the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (September 8, 2018): MI 5:1-4 or ROM 8:28-30; PS 13:6; MT 1:1-16,18-23 or 1:18-23
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
Other than the birth of Jesus Christ, that of His mother Mary is surely the most significant in the history of the world’s salvation.
Scripture offers no details, yet we can assume that it was within her own childhood home that she discovered what it meant to be part of a holy family – one dedicated to worship Almighty God and seek His will in all things. Her parents, known to us as Anne and Joachim, raised her to be true daughter of Abraham as a child and then a young woman of humility, integrity and compassion.
When Joseph, Mary’s betrothed, learned she was pregnant, this just man agonized about how to handle a difficult situation in a way that would cause her the least harm. Then the angel Gabriel spoke to him in a dream and explained their roles in creating the Holy Family for the eternal life of all people of all generations. “‘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” (Matthew 1:21-23). Let us imitate Mary’s commitment to do and be all the Eternal Father ever asked of her.
Suggested missionary action: We can say “Happy Birthday” to Mary by offering a World Mission Rosary in thanksgiving for her care of God’s people around the world.
