THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Wednesday of 23^rd week in ordinary time, 2021

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin 

Micah 5:1-4

Ps 13

Matt 1:1-16,18-23

On the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we read one of the gospel accounts of the nativity or birth of Jesus. We remember the day of Mary’s birth because she gave birth to Jesus and because of the role she would go on to play in the life of Jesus. Jesus had many disciples in the course of his public ministry, but he only ever had one mother. Mary’s relationship with Jesus was truly unique. Yet, as well as being his mother, Mary was also his most faithful disciple. This aspect of her relationship to Jesus is one she shares with us all. 

Today’s gospel reading speaks of Mary as having conceived Jesus ‘by the Holy Spirit’. Not only was her son conceived by the Spirit, but Mary’s whole life was shaped by the Spirit. As a woman of the Spirit, she was not only the mother of Jesus but, in the words of Paul in today’s second reading, she was a true image of God’s Son. Paul declares in that reading that God intends all of us to become true images of God’s Son. It is the Holy Spirit at work in our lives who will enable us to become true images of God’s Son. 

We look to Mary to show us the person that God intends us to become, people of the Spirit who reflect God’s Son to others by our whole way of life. In celebrating Mary’s birthday, we are also celebrating our own baptismal calling. We will not be fully conformed to the image of God’s Son in this earthly life, but each day of our lives we are called to grow into this image, in the power of the Spirit. As we do so, we can look to Mary as our inspiration and also as our support on this journey, calling on her to pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. 

+Remain blessed