***
Gospel: Matthew 1:18-23
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill
what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
***
***
Mark Twain once said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.”
***
Today the Church celebrates the first of those two days for Mary – her birthday. Hers is one of only three that we celebrate throughout the year. The other two belonging to Jesus and John the Baptist.
All three of them were born with a divine mission – a “why” for their existence. We can only imagine how different the world would be if any of them rejected God’s plans.
Consider how difficult it was for Mary, in particular. When the angel Gabriel appeared to her, revealing that she would become the Mother of God, she was only a teenager – scholars estimate fourteen.
She must’ve fretted over the great unknowns – her pregnancy, her wedding plans, her parents’ reaction, Joseph’s reaction, her future, and above all, caring for God in the flesh.
But she reveals by her “yes” that she was not only faithful and pure of heart, she was also courageous.
Mary would continue to draw on that courage for the rest of her life, as she became Christ’s Mother and his disciple, following him faithfully to the Cross and beyond.
***
Have we found our own “why,” God’s plan for our life?
***
Perhaps the answer changes – or simplifies – over time.
May Mary intercede for us, that like her we would discover God’s plan and courageously surrender to his will.
***
***
Image credits: (1) playground.com (2) Quotefancy.com (3) Beads of Joy Blog II