September 08, 2010 - Wednesday of the 23rd Week in Ordinary Time
Feast of the Birth of the Virgin Mary
Mi 5:1-4 * Ps 13 * Mt 1:1-16,18-23

THE GENEALOGY AND BIRTH OF JESUS

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham?Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah. Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they live together she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 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 call him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."

 

THE PROMISES HE MADE TO OUR ANCESTORS

I t doesn't matter if your genealogy is (Filipino), Irish or Chinese or Native American: if you are a Christian, Abraham and Sarah are your foreparents by adoption, and the promises God made to them are for you. God promised Abraham's descendants a Messiah, a Savior. Through the prophet Isaiah, God said, "He will come and save you" (Is 35:4). This promise, fulfilled in Jesus Christ, doesn't sound startling to us now. We're used to it, and it is fulfilled. Yet the world is replete with people who don't know the promise, whose lives are so bleak they can't grasp the idea that God will save them. Millions believe that they're alone in the world, without hope or friendship, not realizing that God is walking beside them. And millions more don't understand the promise: they think they have to work their way to heaven, not knowing that Christ is always standing by to save them. Our live, inspired by Mary's joyful celebration of God's mercy and justice, are a witness to a world suffering the lack of God's love. Through that witness, all people can become heirs to the promises God fulfilled through Mary.

(Taken from The Way of Mary by K.J.Ingram, published by Paulines. Visit us at www.paulines.ph or at Paulines Media Centers.)

 

Sower’s Thought: "With Mary everything is easier, everything is more joyful, everything is more fruitful and holy. Let us consecrate ourselves (and all the means of our apostolate) to Mary." - Blessed James Alberione, Founder of the Pauline Family