Sep 8 – Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary announced joy and the approaching salvation of a lost world. Mary was brought into the world not like other children of Adam, infected with the contagion of sin, but pure, holy, beautiful, and glorious, adorned with all the most precious graces fitting for the one predestined to be the Mother of the Saviour. Never did she have the slightest inclination towards anything other than the absolute and immediate Will of God.
She appeared indeed in the weak condition of all mortals, but in the eyes of Heaven she already transcended the highest seraphim in purity, humility, charity, and the richest ornaments of grace. God had created her in the original grace, as in the beginning Adam and Eve had enjoyed that ineffable privilege; after original sin, it was lost for all Adam’s posterity, until the time of the Redemption dawned in Mary. (Cf. I Cor. 15:21-23)
The nations celebrate, often too noisily, the birthdays of the great ones of this earth. How then ought we, Christians, to rejoice in that of the Virgin Mary, Mother of our Salvation, and to present publicly to God the homage of our best praises and thanksgiving for the great mercies He has shown in her, imploring her mediation with her Divine Son!
Jesus of Nazareth will not reject the supplications of His most holy Mother, through whom He chose to descend from Heaven; she, the Spouse of the Canticle, is all beautiful and is the one He was pleased to obey while on earth. Her love, care, and tenderness for Him, the title and qualities which she bears, the charity and graces with which she is adorned, and the crown of glory with which she is honoured, incline Him readily to receive her recommendations and petitions.
Mic 5:1-4a
Mt 1:1-16, 18-23
“For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.”
As a parent, I can’t begin to describe what it’s like when your child is born. The whole nine months of waiting, sometimes worrying, for this little baby to arrive. Personally — and I’m sure most mothers can relate — most of my nights during my pregnancy were spent lying awake in bed, thinking about what my child would be like, what he would grow up to be. I spoke to God a fair bit during that time too, lifting my child to Him and praying that he would be blessed with God’s protection and a good future.
Having a child is like holding a promise in your arms. This is not just a bundle of joy, but a bundle of God’s promises of what this child could be. Imagine, that his or her future has already been written by God and we, as parents, are just stewards of this child — to prepare him or her to receive and fulfil this promise, this plan. Sometimes, it’s hard to believe that this is even possible — does God really have a plan for each child who is born? What’s harder to digest is when you look at someone who has achieved something in life – did that person’s parents ever think, yes, my child will someday be somebody, will do something that will make such a difference in someone’s life. Who would have thought that right at the start? Who would have thought this would be possible someday, from humble beginnings?
This brings us to today’s Feast of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. When Mother Mary was born, little would she or her parents have thought that she would have been chosen to be the Mother of God. As she grew up and lived her day-to-day life, no one around her would have guessed that one day, she would carry the Messiah in her, blessed by the power of the Holy Spirit. To many people who knew her, she would have been ‘just Mary’, one of many girls in her village. There was nothing extraordinary about her, nothing so different from any other girl. And yet… God had a marvelous, miraculous plan, just for her.
Putting aside that life was still a mystery and a challenge for her in later life, the point is this: we are all little miracles that God created, each one of us holding a promise of God’s unique plan waiting to come to fruition. I used to think what would become of someone ‘ordinary’ like me; but, we are not ordinary to God. We are all special, lovingly created by God, breathed to life by God. God does not see backgrounds nor status, beauty nor brains – it is our hearts He is after. And the wondrous things that He can bring about when we bring our lives to Him! Don’t just see the ordinary, see the impossibility becoming possible. See the miracle in the small things. We are all miracles waiting to happen, if we accept His will as Mother Mary did.
“See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” – Isaiah 49:16.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Annette Soo)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, sometimes we lie awake at night wondering if there is something more for us, if this is all there is in life. Some days, life punches us in the gut and we feel so defeated. In these times when we feel like giving up and throwing in the towel, help us to remember that the only surrendering that we need to do is surrendering to You.
Thanksgiving: Lord God, You have engraved us in the palm of Your hand, and You know the plans You have for us, plans to prosper us, and not to harm us. I believe that You’re not done with my life. I’m not ordinary in Your eyes, and I am not too small for Your plan. For in small things, great things can spring forth. Thank You, Lord, for Your belief in me.
OXYGEN 
Leave a comment