Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Micah 5:1-4a or Romans 8:28-30; Matthew 1:1-16.18-23 or Matthew 1:18-23)
The Byzantine Orthodox Church has a beautiful prayer to the Christ child on Christmas. The prayer expresses the age-old desire to present Jesus with a special gift. It proposes as a truly worthy offering on the part of humanity a Virgin Mother. She is Mary, the fairest of women, who will prepare Jesus for his mission of revealing God’s love to the world.
Today the Church celebrates Mary in a special way. Hers is the only birthday recognized in the
liturgical calendar besides those of Jesus and John the Baptist. By calling attention to her birth, the Church
recognizes a life solely dedicated to God.
Mary is also singled out as a model for young and old today. We should find in her chastity the way to
happiness no matter our state of life. We
can see in her obedience to God’s will how costly sacrifice leads to wonderful
outcomes. Most of all, of course, we recognize
in Mary the fullness of love. She cares
for Jesus at his birth in Matthew and Luke and at his death in John’s
gospel. She speaks up in Cana for the
whole world. “’They have no wine,’” is a
plaintive call for the happiness of the kingdom. Each of us should strive to live as
faithfully as this woman.
