A Reflection on the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
8th September, A.D. 2010
Most saints’ feastday in the Roman Liturgy are the day of their death which is considered their “birth in heaven”. However the earthly birthday of our Lord Jesus, John the Baptist and the Blessed Virgin Mary are honored in the Liturgy. The Church has given this distinction because of its significance in salvation history. Christmas is the birth of Christ, the day the Messiah entered into human history. While John the Baptist’s birth was according to God’s precise plan as he comes before the Messiah. Thus, Mary’s birth is marked by the church with a feast because her physical birth is essential for the Messiah to take flesh.
Beyond Mary’s physical motherhood to Christ, we honor her on her birthday for her virtuous life that each of us must emulate. Her life of total submission to the will of the Almighty is an inspiration to Christians throughout the ages. No other mortal exemplified the obedience of Mary. Many saints during their lifetime had been great sinners until they encountered the Lord at some point in their life. But for Mary, she had been obedient from her birth to her death. She was afterall spared from Original Sin as God declared “I will put enmity before thee (the devil) and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed.” (Genesis 3:15) This great privilege was bestowed upon her not because of her own merit but for the merit of her Son Jesus, the Savior.
As the angelic salutation declared, “Hail full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women.” (Luke 1:28) This reiterates her being distinct among mortals. She was “full of grace” meaning God had given her every grace possible; not partly but complete. Because of this she had the capacity to accept God’s will without reservation and with complete trust. Thus, she said, “I am the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)
Mary had been responsible to rearing Jesus and throughout his earthly mission she was with him. She was his greatest follower, the disciple who never wavered in her faith in him. She was instrumental for Jesus to make his first miracle turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. There she told the servants, “Do whatever he tell you” (John 2:5) are words that sums up what each of us must do, to follow what God tells us.
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother.” (John 19:25) At the foot of the cross, Mary stood by Christ as he accomplishes his mission to redeem mankind. She felt his pain and shared with him his sorrow. She rejoiced at his resurrection and saw him return in heaven. It was when the apostles “in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus.” (Acts 1:14) that the Holy Spirit came and the church was established. Throughout her remaining life on earth she never stopped working to further God’s Kingdom as part of the church’s mission.
Hence, Mary’s birth and life has to be celebrated. Jesus on the cross addressed St. John and his mother said, “Son, behold thy mother; Woman, behold thy son!” (John 19:26,27) was a mandate to her to care for us, that she may help us through her prayers. While to us (as we were represented by St. John) we should honor her— not as we honor or pay God our devotion rather to live her examples. Yet we honor her liturgically, we best honor her by emulating her life and upholding her legacy of humility and obedience to God.
Let us pray,
Our Father in heaven,
We praise You for Your great mercy.
Thank You for the gift of salvation
through Your Son Jesus Christ.
Thank You, Lord Jesus
for Your great love for us
for saving us by Your
death and resurrection.
Thank You for giving us
Your mother, Mary,
to be our own mother;
to be our model of humility
and obedience; of the virtuous life.
Mama Mary, help us by your prayers.
Intercede for us in our necessities
and inspire us by your examples.
Encourage us to know Jesus better
that we may walk by His teachings.
May we bear in mind always,
“To do whatever you Son tells us to do.”
We pray in the Name of Jesus,
our Lord and Savior.
Amen.
O, Mary, conceived without sin,
Pray for us who have recourse to thee!
8th September, A.D. 2010
Most saints’ feastday in the Roman Liturgy are the day of their death which is considered their “birth in heaven”. However the earthly birthday of our Lord Jesus, John the Baptist and the Blessed Virgin Mary are honored in the Liturgy. The Church has given this distinction because of its significance in salvation history. Christmas is the birth of Christ, the day the Messiah entered into human history. While John the Baptist’s birth was according to God’s precise plan as he comes before the Messiah. Thus, Mary’s birth is marked by the church with a feast because her physical birth is essential for the Messiah to take flesh.
Beyond Mary’s physical motherhood to Christ, we honor her on her birthday for her virtuous life that each of us must emulate. Her life of total submission to the will of the Almighty is an inspiration to Christians throughout the ages. No other mortal exemplified the obedience of Mary. Many saints during their lifetime had been great sinners until they encountered the Lord at some point in their life. But for Mary, she had been obedient from her birth to her death. She was afterall spared from Original Sin as God declared “I will put enmity before thee (the devil) and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed.” (Genesis 3:15) This great privilege was bestowed upon her not because of her own merit but for the merit of her Son Jesus, the Savior.
As the angelic salutation declared, “Hail full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women.” (Luke 1:28) This reiterates her being distinct among mortals. She was “full of grace” meaning God had given her every grace possible; not partly but complete. Because of this she had the capacity to accept God’s will without reservation and with complete trust. Thus, she said, “I am the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)
Mary had been responsible to rearing Jesus and throughout his earthly mission she was with him. She was his greatest follower, the disciple who never wavered in her faith in him. She was instrumental for Jesus to make his first miracle turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. There she told the servants, “Do whatever he tell you” (John 2:5) are words that sums up what each of us must do, to follow what God tells us.
“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother.” (John 19:25) At the foot of the cross, Mary stood by Christ as he accomplishes his mission to redeem mankind. She felt his pain and shared with him his sorrow. She rejoiced at his resurrection and saw him return in heaven. It was when the apostles “in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus.” (Acts 1:14) that the Holy Spirit came and the church was established. Throughout her remaining life on earth she never stopped working to further God’s Kingdom as part of the church’s mission.
Hence, Mary’s birth and life has to be celebrated. Jesus on the cross addressed St. John and his mother said, “Son, behold thy mother; Woman, behold thy son!” (John 19:26,27) was a mandate to her to care for us, that she may help us through her prayers. While to us (as we were represented by St. John) we should honor her— not as we honor or pay God our devotion rather to live her examples. Yet we honor her liturgically, we best honor her by emulating her life and upholding her legacy of humility and obedience to God.
Let us pray,
Our Father in heaven,
We praise You for Your great mercy.
Thank You for the gift of salvation
through Your Son Jesus Christ.
Thank You, Lord Jesus
for Your great love for us
for saving us by Your
death and resurrection.
Thank You for giving us
Your mother, Mary,
to be our own mother;
to be our model of humility
and obedience; of the virtuous life.
Mama Mary, help us by your prayers.
Intercede for us in our necessities
and inspire us by your examples.
Encourage us to know Jesus better
that we may walk by His teachings.
May we bear in mind always,
“To do whatever you Son tells us to do.”
We pray in the Name of Jesus,
our Lord and Savior.
Amen.
O, Mary, conceived without sin,
Pray for us who have recourse to thee!
No comments:
Post a Comment