Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (08 Sept. 2017

⏰Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (08 Sept. 2017)

📕Mic 5:2-5a; Ps 13:5, 6 (R. Isa 61:10a); Matt 1:1-16, 18-23

🎤"THOSE WHOM HE CALLED... HE ALSO GLORIFIED" (Rom 8:30)

May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit abide with you both now and for ever. Amen.

Today, we celebrate with joy the work of the redemption of man by God in history. This is the major role which the genealogical accounts of Jesus' birth serve to play in the Gospels (Matt 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38). They show that the promised Messiah comes in history as the son of David, to also purify the history which has been distorted by sin.

With that importance placed at the coming of Jesus in history, we normally give special honour to those who were honoured first by God as instruments for bringing that messianic purpose to fruition (cf. Rom 8:30). That is why the Church celebrates the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Is that not fetish and foolish? Does that appeal to common sense? Maybe, we begin from there - common sense.

The world today has the Mandela Day in its calendar in celebration of his role in fighting for the freedom of the black South Africans. In Western Nigeria, Chief Awolowo's birthday is still celebrated with much enthusiasm because of his role in the political life of the Yorubas. Same with Tafawa Belewa in the North. Recently, the Igbos also began the celebration of Ojukwu's birthday.

Can you see how we find meaning in those worldly celebrations but sometimes thought it foolish to honour those whom God himself honoured?

The prophet Micah placed so much importance around the Maiden (cf. Mic 5:2-5) and the angel Gabriel honoured her with a kind of greeting meant for royalty, _"Hail!"_ (cf. Luke 1:28).

Can you today put aside the worldly bias about some matters of faith (read Heb 11:1-2) and join the Psalmist in greatly rejoicing in the Lord for his love for humanity?

Remember that these celebrations would amount to nothing without the person of Jesus. So the celebration is actually an acknowledgment of the power of God in using what is weak to do great things.

As we rejoice in the Lord today, may he who also called us enable us to share in the glory of his Son. May this glory manifest itself in all that we shall undertake in this week and beyond. Amen.

Have a glorious day ahead. Peace be with you.

I wish you a miraculous day ahead. Peace be with you.

BIRTHDAY OF OUR BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Catholics all over the world today celebrate the traditional birthday of the Blessed Virgin MarY

In other parishes and chapels in the archdiocese, all Masses today will be in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Palma earlier said the number of activities to honor the Blessed Mother is evidence that the Philippines is “Pueblo Amante de Maria (A People in Love with Mary).”

“We are proud, happy, and grateful in our devotion to Mama Mary,” he said.

He encouraged the faithful to deepen their love for Mary by understanding her role in the salvation of mankind.

There is no actual record of Mary’s date of birth in Jerusalem but Catholic tradition celebrates the event as a liturgical feast on September 8 or nine months after the solemnity of her Immaculate Conception celebrated on December 8.

Msgr. Joseph Tan, media liaison officer of the Archdiocese of Cebu, said the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary has become a popular devotion in the Philippines.

“The event resonates the culture wherein we celebrate birthdays of our loved ones. For us, this celebration inspires hope. Mary is the new Eve. She is the mother of Jesus, and the fulfillment of salvation. Her birthday is a celebration of our aspirations of a better future, putting our full trust and confidence in God’s promises,” he said in an interview.

Tan said Mary’s birthday is often celebrated by attending masses, praying the rosary, as well as offering flowers and candles to the Blessed Mother.

“But the best present we can give to Mary is to follow her virtues and characters. She was holy and free from sin. But what I want to emphasize in this Jubilee Year of Mercy is Mary’s compassion and sensitivity to the needs of others,” he said.

“She showed her being merciful when a newlywed couple ran out of wine in a wedding banquet in Cana (in Galilee). She, indeed, is the mother of mercy,” the monsignor added.
Tan encouraged the Filipinos to seek Mary’s intercession for the good of the country and its people.

“Let us offer prayers for our new president. We pray for peace and order especially in the wake of the bomb attack in Davao City, as well as, the ongoing war against illegal drugs,” he said.