Nativity of the B.V.Mary, Thursday – 8th September 2022 — Gospel: Mt 1,1-16,18-23
Vessel of Salvation
The feast of Mother Mary’s birth is celebrated exactly nine months after the feast of her immaculate conception. Although there is no scriptural account of her birth, the feast finds its historical roots in a sixth century hymn by St.Romanos the Melodist who used the Apocryphal Gospel of James (ca. 150 CE) as his source. Today’s Gospel narrative focuses on the birth of the Messiah, prior to which gives the human ancestry of Jesus from Abraham down to Joseph. That is very appropriate since it is Christ Jesus who is the key figure in salvation history. The narrative also presents Mary as the human woman whom God has chosen to be the mother of the Messiah. As an open vessel, she allowed God to work in her and so enabled God to bring to completion through her Son Jesus, the salvation of the whole human race. She conceives by the power of the Holy Spirit so that her child has a human nature from her and a divine nature from God. Mary is to be honoured for her role in helping to bring forth the Saviour into the world. Her role as the mother of Jesus is an important one, but is always subordinate to the role of Jesus. As a mother, she willingly gave birth, nursed, nurtured, and perfectly loved her Son from infancy to the foot of the cross to the throne of heaven. Her plans always included doing what God expected of her. At the same time, she learned from Jesus, lived as His disciple and continues to play her integral role in the plan of salvation.
