Daily Reflection for Tuesday, September 08, 2020
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
We encourage you to reflect on the day’s readings at this link:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090820.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
Reading I: Micah 5:1-4a OR Romans 8:28-30
Responsorial: Isaiah 13:6a-c
Gospel: Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23 OR 1:18-23
Our reflection on Tuesday’s readings:
Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. Matthew 1:18
Today’s Gospel traces Jesus’ genealogy, and reminds us how each individual mentioned had a part in the history of the people who were listening to the account of their ancestors. Those listed were not the superheroes of their day. Some were kings and sages, but others were common men and women; a few were rogues. And yet, through the generations and their very different lives, there was one thread that linked them, their past, and the future . . . faithfulness to God.
That tradition of faithfulness had been passed from parents to children, and in today’s reading it culminated in a moment of supreme faithfulness: an angel spoke to a young girl and she accepted what God asked her to do. By the way her parents had lived, Mary had learned to live with God’s love in her life every day. She was prepared to nurture and teach Jesus himself about loving relationships.
One of our names for Mary, Theotokos, means “God bearer.” Mary gave Jesus his human life and bore responsibility to help him learn what he needed to know as the leader who would train and send forth the messengers of God’s salvation, his disciples, the founders of a new community of faithful followers of God.
This gospel gives me hope. It reminds me that God works through saints but also uses the common fishermen, toiling women, shepherds, tax collectors, even you and me. God wants to use all of us, regardless of our failings, if we are willing to say “YES.”
A prayer from the Mass also gives me hope. As the priest mixes water with the wine during the Preparation of the Gifts, he silently prays: “By the mystery of this water and wine may we come to share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.” The priest is praying that you and I share in the divinity of Christ . . . that we heal, forgive, share and teach . . . just as Jesus did.
Just as Mary considered herself an ordinary, unprepared girl, God saw something more. The same applies to us.
Mary’s words of praise in the Magnificat echo for us as a prayer of thanksgiving that God sees us as worthy, too: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.” . . . the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.” When I remember that, I have hope for the present and the future.
Peace, my friends,
Bill Bradbury