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Reflection from our Co-Pastors
Tuesday, September 8, 2022
Gratitude for ‘Yes’
Today is the feast day of the birth of the Mother of God, Theotokos.
A little background from Franciscan Media --
'The Roman Church has celebrated Mary’s birth since at least the sixth century. A September birth was chosen because the Eastern Church begins its Church year with September. The September 8 date helped determine the date for the feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8.
Scripture does not give an account of Mary’s birth. However, the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James fills in the gap. This work has no historical value, but it does reflect the development of Christian piety. According to this account, Anna and Joachim are infertile but pray for a child. They receive the promise of a child who will advance God’s plan of salvation for the world. Such a story, like many biblical counterparts, stresses the special presence of God in Mary’s life from the beginning.'
How could the assigned birth-day of the mother of God go unnoticed? Without that flesh and blood mother there would not be a Word Made Flesh. It seems to me that it is God’s Yes to creation to begin to bring God’s self-emptying and self-giving into all materiality as God created it in the birth of Mary. It is God’s Yes to be The Word Made Flesh in Jesus, the Alpha and Omega; and it is God’s Yes to send the Paraclete; and it is Mary’s Yes, years earlier, that births the Incarnation.
Could it be that God is grateful for all creation poured out from that same Self, for the energy that keeps all filled with that energy (that same Self), and continues to energize life which multiplies with ever greater complexity from that same Self? And Mary, as our companion and disciple of Jesus, well, she continues to stress Love as our salvation not our possession.
Let us join together today in prayer, expressing our gratitude for all that exists and 'Yes' to experience the joy and wonder of it all.
“My soul proclaims your greatness, O my God,
and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.
For your regard has blessed me, poor, and a serving woman.
From this day all generations will call me blessed,
for you, who are mighty, have done great things for me;
and holy is your Name.
Your mercy is on those who fear you, from generation to generation.
You have shown strength with your arm.
You have scattered the proud in their hearts’ conceit.
You have put down the mighty from their thrones,
and have lifted up the lowly.
You have filled the hungry with good things,
You have sent the rich away empty.
You have helped your servant Israel,
remembering your mercy,
as you promised to Abraham and Sarah,
mercy to their children forever."
Luke 1:456-55,as found in Truly Our Sister by Elizabeth Johnson
Image: Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Icon, read more here.
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