Gospel Delights!

Friday, September 8, 2023

Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Mi 5:1-4; Rom 8:28-30; Mt 1: 1-16, 18-23

Today, our Mother Church celebrates the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary!

A Jewish proverb goes thus: “God couldn’t be everywhere; so, he created mothers.” But God created Mary because He wanted to be ‘here on earth.’ The birth of the Blessed Virgin Mother carries important salvific significance. The Virgin Mother leaves behind unforgettable lessons for Christian discipleship. 

1.Mary was chosen by God. Yes! But Mary justified God’s ‘preferential option’ for her by how she lived. In most of the Annunciation portraits, Mary is depicted as someone praying. I believe that such portrayals are not without a profound reason by the artists. One can discover that Mary’s choice by God for the pivotal Salvific mission only increased her commitment to holiness. By ‘treasuring’ all things in her heart (Lk 2:19), Mary lived in contemplation, discerning God’s will through all that unfolded in her life. For an ordinary village girl from Nazareth, Mary’s journey in faith is incredible. 

2. Mary was favored by God. Yes! But Mary endured the challenges of her vocation. When she was faced with unusual challenges as a girl living in a patriarchal society, her faith in God gave her the courage to withstand all of them. The depth of spiritual wisdom one can find in Magnificat is a testament to the spiritual courage with which Mother Mary encountered her daily battles. Her birth as a Divine Instrument, birthing the Divine Baby as Mother of God, accompanying Jesus as a Disciple, and leading the Church as a Believer par excellence make Mary’s role in the Divine Salvific plan both profound and significant. 

3. Mary was nurtured in faith. Yes! But Mary cultivated a life of virtues through which she could intuit other people’s misery and needs. How else can one interpret Mary’s initiative to be with her cousin Elizabeth (Lk 1: 39-45) and her voluntary involvement in the wedding at Cana when they ran short of wine (Jn 2:1-12)? 

Mother Mary was ‘full of grace’ and ‘blessed among women.’ But Mary never rested on her laurels. Mary became the perfect instrument in God’s hands through her willing and active cooperation with the Divine Salvific plan. Mother Mary is our teacher in the faith. We learn from her to be God’s instruments, true disciples, and virtuous Christians. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar