Homily for the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
Fr. Michael Udoekpo
v Micha 5:1-4a OR Rom 8:28-30
v Ps 13:6ab, 6c (R/ Is 61:10)
v Matthew 1:1-16,18-23
Conformity with Christ: Our Birth Day Gift to Mary
Today we celebrate Mary’s birthday. The birthday of the mother
of God. As the responsorial psalm Isaiah 61:10 would put it, “we rejoice in the
Lord.” And what a joy this was to the parents of Mary, Joachim and Anne. And
what a joy this was to God the Father, the Holy One of Israel, the master
planner, who had planned for this Day!
That God had a purpose for Mary to be a devoted and conforming
mother of God, just as he does for each us is evident in the sacred scriptures
and in the teachings of the church. God planned that Mary be
conceived immaculately. She is the one spoken of in Isaiah 7:14 that a virgin,
a parthanos, or that an Alma’ (a young
woman) shall conceived and give birth to a Son, Immanuel and the prince of
Peace. She is the one foretold in the alternate 1st reading of
today, the Prophet Micah 5:1-4a, that someone great will be born from
Bethlehem-Ephrata, they may have been regarded as a small, and unrecognizable
community. What an irony! God can write on a crooked line! His plans are not
human plans.
Saint Paul also speaks of this plan of God,
and the need for us to conform to this divine plan in the Romans 8:28-30. Paul
says “we know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are
called according to his purpose. Continuing, Paul says those God foreknew he
predestined to conform to the image- summophos tes eikonos of his son;
the icon of Jesus (Gen 1:26-28). In Ephesian 1:4 the same Paul says,
we all were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy
before God. For Paul, we are call to imitate Jesus in Good times and in bad
times like our mother Mary. Interestingly, in that 1st reading, Paul also adds,
“those he predestined he called, those he called, he justified, those he
justified he glorified.” Paul uses, very strong aorist, past-undefined
verbs to highlights the plan of God for us- for which we are all invited to
follow. The plan is ongoing. It involves humility, prayer,
repentance, patience, sense of family responsibility and values, joy,
gratitude, hope, faith and love.
Remember, everything about Mary whose birthday we celebrate
today, points to Christ, whose birth of course is narrated in today’s Gospel.
Imagine on the birth day of Mary the story about the birth of Christ, his
genealogy is told by Evangelist Matthew. What does that say to us?
Everything points to Christ.
Think of Mary and the joyful mysteries- the
annunciation, the visitation, the birth of Christ, his presentation and the
finding of Christ in the temple- Mary and Joseph walking back and forth
searching for him. Think of Mary and the sorrowful mysteries. She remained
faithful, devoted and conforming to Christ in all these. Her favorite line is Fiat.
Be it done to me according to your word. In John 2 at Cana in Galilee she told
those who ran out of wine at the wedding party, - just listen to him, do what
Christ tells you!
In fact, our Marian prayers and devotion are nothing else than
asking Mary, how is your Son. Please, lead me to him. Our Mariology must be
Christocentric! On this Birth day of our Lady, the greatest gifts I believe we
can offer her is by allowing her to guide us to Christ, to teach us on how to
conform to Christ’ plan of salvation, in patience, in holiness, in
courage, in endurance, in humility, with hope and love, dialogue and unity,
justice and peace an in every circumstances of our life.
As we engage in our studies, pastoral work and shared ministry
this semester, for those who are in schools’ environment especially during this
difficult time of covid-19, may we strive to imitate Mary, conforming to
Christ, and be ready to always say Fiat, that, be it done to me according to
your Words.
Reflection Questions;
1. What gift would you offer Mary, the
mother of Christ on her birthday?
2. What have you learned from her?
3. How often do you allow her to you to
Christ?
