Bible
Study: Micah 5:1-4.
/ Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23.
In the
entire Catholic liturgical calendar, there are only three persons whose
birthdays are celebrated as feasts; Jesus Christ, John the Baptist and Mary.
This goes to show how important these three persons are as far as the history
of our salvation is concerned.
If these
three persons were not born, the world would have been a different place
altogether. There wouldn’t have been such a thing as Christianity. Today we
celebrate the birthday of our Mother Mary.
If you
recall, it is exactly nine months since we celebrated the feast of Mary’s
Immaculate Conception on the 8th of December last year. Today, Mary was born to
her humble parents Joachim and Ann.
Like every
other child, her parents had no idea that this child they have just had would
eventually be the one to carry in her womb the Son of God, Jesus Christ our
redeemer and king. They had no idea that this child had been conceived without
any spot or stain of original sin as God’s own way of preparing her for the
role she was to play as Mother of Jesus Christ.
One thing
that is clear from today’s readings is the fact that God does not act
arbitrarily. He does not just decide to do something out of the blues. He
plans, he makes adequate preparation and ensures he properly prepares ground
for his plans to come to pass.
As God
said to Jeremiah, “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD,
plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11. Thousands of years before Christ was born, God already planned
what he was going to do.
As we hear
in the conclusion of this Morning’s Gospel passage, “All this took place to
fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall be
with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means ‘God
is with us.’ ”
By the
time the Prophet Micah was speaking in today’s first reading, even Micah
himself had no idea when his prophecies would come to pass.
Dear
friend, as we greet our Mother Mary happy birthday today, I want you to know
that your life is not a mistake. You are here today because God wants you to be
here and his plans for you must surely come to pass. It is your responsibility
to seek God’s face to reveal what exactly is your role, your goal and purpose
in life. But I assure you, your life is not by chance, it is definitely not a
mistake.
Remember
to say a least one decade of the rosary today as your own happy birthday gift
to Mary. You may also extend this gift by performing an act of charity or by
making a special vow in honour of our Mother Mary on her birthday.
Let us
pray:
Lord
Jesus, today your mother was born. She was born for a purpose; that through her
womb, you may take our human flesh. Help me too to realize and fulfil the purpose
of my birth. Amen.
Good morning.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you.
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