Before I became a priest, my mother's birthday was a simple family gathering. We heard Mass, had a family dinner in a special restaurant, sometimes we watched a movie.
Now that I am a priest, commemorating mommy's birthday has been "upgraded" and is a concern of more people. These people met mommy because they met me.They developed a special affection for her because I, her son, am a priest. When her birthday comes, she has more gifts than before. More people are excited about April 30.
The same is true with the nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We celebrate her birth in a very special way because she gave birth to the Son of God. The Blessed Virgin Mary's significance to us is always seen in the light of her son, Jesus. Her birth signals the end of the period of promise and expectation of the Old Testament and the beginning of the time of grace, the kairos, of the New Testament. Because she was born, the birth of the Blessed Savior was near. Salvation was at hand more than before.
The Blessed Virgin Mary is karithomene, full of grace, because it was IN her, then THROUGH her, that karis, ("grace") first appeared. Jesus is Grace in person. And she was not only the first to have been saved, the Blessed Virgin Mary is always the vessel of Salvation, who is Jesus Christ Himself.
But unlike my mother's birth, the Blessed Mother's birth was ordained by the birth of her Son, Jesus. Mary was predestined to be the mother of the Lord. This is also the reason why she was immaculately conceived, that she was conceived without original sin, that even before the actual events of the Lord's Paschal Mystery she was already saved. This must be the reason why on her birthday, the Gospel enumerates not her genealogy but that of her Son's. The Gospel is not about her birth but the birth of the Lord.
Many people, though they are not my siblings, call my mother, "Mommy". They met her, they knew her, and they continue to love her. The Blessed Virgin Mary is our mommy too because of Jesus.
Happy Birthday, Mommy! (No, it is not my mom's birthday today. But, yes, it is Mommy's birthday.) - Fr. Bobby T (Didache).
REFLECTION QUESTION: What is my gift to Mama Mary on her birthday today?
"Father of mercy, give Your people help and strength from heaven. The birth of the Virgin Mary's Son was the dawn of our salvation. May this celebration of her birthday bring us closer to lasting peace. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen"
(Opening Prayer of the Mass on the Feast of the Birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary).
Sts. Adrian and Natalia, pray for us.
