FRIDAY, TWENTY SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Mic 5: 2-5/Rom 8:28-30; Ps 13: 6-7; Mt 1: 1-16, 18-23
OFFERING OUR HEARTS TO MARY
Today is the feast of the Nativity of Mary, exactly nine months after the Church celebrated her Immaculate Conception. The Catholic Church celebrates the Birthdays of only two people other than Jesus, viz. John the Baptist and Mother Mary. All the other saints have their feast days on their death anniversary.
While the Birthday of Mother Mary is very popular among children, who can relate to the celebration with the offering of flowers, we tend to forget that we are celebrating the Birthday of our Mother, whose children we are no matter how old one may be. And as it is the custom of offering gifts to our dear ones on their birthday, have we ever thought of offering a gift to our heavenly mother? What gift could Mother Mary need? Flowers, cake, sweets? All this forms a part of the celebration but a Mother will not be content with any of this if she sees her children suffering from any form of deficit. And Mother Mary desires that we have Jesus in our hearts because He alone can truly satisfy us.
Therefore, the best gift that we can give Mother Mary on her birthday is a heart completely surrendered to the will of God. In other words, a heart that resembles her own heart. Mother Mary had no other desire than to yield to the will of God at all times. Even though she could not understand the ways of God, she humbly surrendered herself to His divine plan. The Bible testifies to the fact that Mary pondered on the word of God and treasured it in her heart. We are called to imitate our Blessed Mother on her birthday. Walking along the path that she chose, guarantees us a place alongside her in paradise. Her greatest joy will be to welcome us into the company of her beloved son on the day of our death. Therefore, let our hearts resemble the flowers that we place before her, that its fragrance may give joy.
Response: I will greatly rejoice in the Lord.
Copyright ©2023 ©Springs of Living Water http://springs.carmelmedia.in