First Reading: Mic 5:2-5a; Psalm: 13. R. v. Is 61:10a; Gospel: Mt 1:1-16. 18-23

MARY, A BLESSING TO ALL GENERATIONS

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

There is no account of Mary’s birth in the Bible. The only account of her birth was recorded in the Protoevangelium of James (an apocryphal gospel written about A.D 150). This record says that Mary’s parents were Joachim and Anne and that they were childless until an angel appeared to Anne and told her she was going to conceive. Tradition also has it that after Mary’s birth; she served in the temple as a little girl. And then as recorded in the Scriptures, she served God as the mother of his Son Jesus Christ.

We celebrate the birth of Mary today because her birth brought divine blessings to our world. The gospel of today focused on Mary’s role in the history of salvation. Mary was already a blessing to her generation as attested by the angel Gabriel and Elizabeth even before she was with child. Her obedience to God and her willingness to be our channel to salvation made her a blessing to the whole world. And so we celebrate today the birth of a child that would change the life of the world forever.

Whenever we mark our birthdays, we should take out time to reflect on our impact on the environment in which we live and the world at large. Every human person was created to be a blessing to his/her generation by obedience to God and by the life of love visible in our relationship with people. Our life is only worthwhile when people feel the blessings of our presence in the world. Who are we to those around us? What impact does our presence bring? Do people really feel blessed having us around? If Mary our Mother was a blessing to the world; we her children can likewise be a blessing to others.  

Happy Birthday to Mary our Mother.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Mother Mary, we ask for your special intercession on this day as we mark your birthday; that we may come to serve God faithfully as you did and be a blessing to our generation. Amen.