Reflection
Nativity of Mary
What was it like for Anna and Joachim to give birth to their daughter, Miriam (Mary)? Ask any mother and father and they will vividly tell you about the weather that day, the rush of emotions and the experience of bringing new life into the world.
Today the church celebrates the Nativity of Mary. We do not often think of Mary as an infant or child. Today we are invited to contemplate the infant Mary and the joyful anticipation that accompanied her entrance into our world.
Mary will become the mother of Jesus and the Mother of God. “Nativity” is a word we use for the birth of her son, destined to become the Savior of the world. Praying with Mary’s birth helps us to recall her central place in God’s plan for each of us.
How do we participate in the mystery of this day of birth? What invitation do we receive through the great mystery of Jesus’ becoming like us? Now begins the dawn of God’s work to redeem His people and bring about my healing. I am invited today to embrace the awe and wonder of God.
God comes to restore humanity, scarred by the sin of Adam, in the Garden. God chooses Mary as the new Eve, who will be given the chance to choose God over the temptations of the world. Mary’s birth begins the story that has the power to change the world forever. We are so blessed! And Mary’s birth is just the beginning of the abundant blessings God has planned for us through Jesus, if Mary says “yes.”
Mary’s “yes” places her at the center of a series of marvelous events that are to follow. We know her through the Gospels’ accounting: at Jesus’ birth; at the Presentation of Jesus; at Jerusalem and Cana; and finally we know her intimately at the foot of her Son’s cross.
Through Mary we learn to trust God in all things; to surrender our will completely to His; to let go of the plans we have and trust that God’s plan is best. We learn to ponder what God is doing in our life instead of reacting. We learn that love of Christ will include suffering which ultimately brings abounding joy.
So today we thank God for the gift of St. Anne and St. Joachim who planted the love of God deeply in Mary’s heart and soul. We thank God for the gift of Mary, so pure and lowly. We thank God for Mary’s YES. Her pure love of God that led her to trust Him and choose His plan of life and salvation for the world. And we are grateful that the first and most perfect disciple of Jesus is also our heavenly mother whose eternity is spent leading God’s children to her beloved Son, Jesus.
What a glorious day! It’s a day to rejoice in the goodness of God!