Happy Birthday, Mary!

8 Sep

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.”  (Mt 1:18-23)

Today is the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Since we do not have any scriptures about her birth — after all, scripture is concerned about Jesus and not any of his followers, per se — we are given the Gospel of how the birth of Jesus came about.

It is a vivid reminder to us about our understanding and will versus God’s plan and will.

We remember how an angel came to Mary and asked her to be the mother of Jesus.  She was frightened, understandably, and confused.  What could this mean and how could it be since she had never had any kind of sexual relations with a man?  The angel told her that the power of God would overshadow her and she would conceive.  She announced with great faith and humility that she was the handmaid of the Lord and wanted things to be done according to God’s will.

That put Joseph into a real pickle later.

After all, he had not had any relations with his intended bride.  But she came to him and told him that she was pregnant with God’s Son.

Joseph was a good man, a kind man, a just man.  He could have had Mary stoned to death for infidelity; but, instead, he decided to divorce her quietly and let her live her own life.

But an angel came to him in a dream and told him that Mary had, indeed, conceived by the power of God and was carrying God’s son.  The angel asked Joseph to take Mary and to protect both her and the child.

How can you say no to an angel?  How can you say no to the will of God?

FAITH ACTION:  God often asks us to do what we consider to be the unthinkable.  What do you feel God is calling you to do?  Are you running from His will or do you embrace it with faith and humility?  Ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for you that you may have the strength, grace, and courage to accept God’s will for your life.