HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
THEME: Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
BY: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA
HOMILY FOR THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8 2022
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Micah 5:1-4
Psalm 12:6-7
Matthew 1:1-16,18-23
*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
WHITE
*INTRODUCTION*
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This day marks the birthday of Mary, the Mother of God. We celebrate in a special way, the moment when Mary came into this world, as the future Mother of Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world.
The Church celebrates three nativities in it’s liturgical calendar: the birthday of Jesus on December 25th; Mary’s birthday September 8th and John the Baptist’s birthday on June 24th.
*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
In our first reading today, we heard how the Lord proclaimed that Bethlehem, the city of David, would be the place where His Saviour and Deliverance came from, and although that city might have been a small and insignificant one among the other cities of Israel and Judah, but it was through this place that the Lord’s great plan of salvation would be accomplished, through the Woman whom the Lord Himself proclaimed to be the bearer of the Messiah or Saviour.
*FROM THE GOSPEL READING*
In Today’s Gospel, we see how Mary was advised she would conceive God, the Savior of his People. And let us realize that this girl, virgin and Jesus’ mother, had to be also our mother. The special election of Mary, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Lk 1:42), makes us admire God’s tenderness in his way of proceeding.
The question to ask ourselves is “Who could ever imagine God to be so great and yet so humble that he intimately bind Himself to us?”
*WHY WE CELEBRATE THE BIRTHDAY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY*
We celebrate this Feast as catholics more joyfully, because we remember our own beloved mother’s birthday today, as we remember the love she has for us, all the intercessions she had made on our behalf, whether we realise it or not. Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ, as our mother, Mary has always gazed upon us and wanted us all to be saved through her Son, and she certainly never ceased reaching out to us with love.
*CONCLUSION*
May the Lord continue to guide us and strengthen us in our journey, and may He empower each one of us that we may continue to walk ever more faithfully in His path, guided through the patient love of His mother Mary, who is our loving mother too.
Happy Feast Day everyone and Happy birthday to the Blessed virgin Mary mother of God and our Mother.
Happy birthday mama Mary!