Deacon Stu Dobson’s Reflection 9-8-23

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, September 8, 2023

Mt 5:1-4a or Rom 8:28-30; Ps 13:6abc; Mt 1:1-16, 18-23

Today is the day we celebrate the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The following is taken (paraphrased) from a reflection for the day from the Franciscan Media website. While we do not know exactly when Mary was born, the Church chose this day because the Eastern Church begins its year in September, and September 8^th helped determine the date of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th. There also is no scripture detailing Mary’s birth, but, ancient writings depict that Joachim and Anna were childless and prayed for a child. God honors them with the promise that their child will advance God’s plan for salvation. God was present in Mary from the very beginning, even before she was born. 

St. Augustine also connects Mary’s birth with Jesus’s saving work; “She is the flower of the field from which bloomed the precious lily of the valley. Through her birth, the nature inherited from our first parents is changed.” Even the opening prayer from today’s Mass speaks of the birth of Mary’s Son as the dawn of our salvation and asks for an increase of peace. 

Every human birth is a call for new hope in our world. By the love of two human beings, God creates His most magnificent work, the creation of a child. Each and every child is hope for peace in the world. All they have to do is foster that love from God, and be the channel of peace in the world. As with think of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s birth, we can see the perfect expression of God’s love for us through Mary. If Jesus has brought the fullness of salvation, Mary is its dawning.

The next time you celebrate the birthday of a loved one, take a moment and ponder the Blessed Virgin Mary’s birth. Next to Jesus’ birth, Mary’s birth offers us the greatest possible happiness in the world; for through her, our savior was born. Every time we celebrate a birth, and Mary’s birth, we can confidently hope for an increase of peace in our hearts and happiness for the world.