Saturday, September 8, 2012 by Food for Thought
BIRTH OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
FirstReading: Mi 5:1-4a Or: Rom 8:28-30
Psalm: Ps 13:6ab, 6c
Gospel: Mt 1:1-16, 18-23 Or: Mt 1:18-23
The introduction for todays celebration in the Roman Missal writes: The Church, in keeping a solemn feast for the birthday of the BlessedVirgin Mary, celebrates the dawning of the Redemption over the world when, after a long period of waiting, she who was to be the Mother of
our Savior was born. The Blessed Virgin occupies a unique place in the history of salvation. Heaven rejoices at her birth. The Lord reserves for her the highest mission ever commended to any creature. We rejoice in the certainty that the Mother of God is our Mother too.
God had already planned in advance our salvation from imminent death. Just as Mary had been chosen before her birth to be the Mother of God, God also prepares for the salvation of all people: I knew you even before you were born. Todays feast helps us be aware of that preparation and our response to it. We are not merely recipients of salvation; like Mary, we are also transmitters. The Gospel presents to us the genealogy of Jesus. As we look deeper into the stories of each and every one of Jesus human ancestors, which includes Abraham and David, we see how God prepares and delivers his people, preserving the transmittal until his final plan would be realized. With this in mind, we are all encouraged to pursue and live out Christs love because that is what God had meant for us to be.