The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Feast
Readings: Micah 5:1–4; Psalm 12(13):6–7; Matthew 1:1–16, 18–23
Today the Church celebrates with joy the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary, because her birth announces that the coming of Christ is drawing near. Micah speaks of the mother who will give birth to the ruler of Israel, the One who “himself will be peace.” Therefore, in celebrating the birthday of the Mother, we are already celebrating the approach of the Son: Mary’s life has meaning entirely in relation to Jesus. This is why the Church can sing with the Psalm, “I exult for joy in the Lord,” because in Mary a new chapter of salvation history begins to unfold. The genealogy in Matthew reminds us that God works through a real human history, marked by holiness and sin, fidelity and failure, greatness and weakness; yet through all these generations His saving plan moves faithfully toward Christ. Within this history stands Mary with an absolute openness to the plan of God. She does not impose her own design upon God but allows His design to become her life. Her greatness lies precisely in this availability: her existence becomes a space in which God can act without resistance. Because Mary is open, the Word becomes flesh; because she entrusts herself to God, the Prince of Peace enters human history. Her birthday therefore celebrates more than the beginning of one extraordinary human life: it celebrates the birth of a heart completely available to God. Mary teaches us that the most fruitful life is not the one in which all our own plans succeed, but the one that remains so open to God that His plan can succeed in us. And whenever we offer Him that openness, Christ can once again enter the world through our lives and bring His peace. Let’s reflect: Like Mary, am I sufficiently open to God to allow His plan, not merely my own plans, to take shape in my life and make me an instrument of Christ’s peace?
Don Giorgio