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Gospel Reading for September 08, 2026 – Matthew 1: 18-23
WHOLE OF HUMANITY
Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived 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 name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.”
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Today, the Church celebrates the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Some will argue that nowhere in the Bible do we find the birthday of Mary. Of course, that is because the Bible is centered on Jesus. If Mary is mentioned, it is in relation to her being the biological mother of Jesus, the Son of God.
But as followers of Christ, we honor her not only because she is the Mother of our Savior, but also because of her unique contribution to God’s plan of salvation. Her “yes” at the Annunciation, and her continued “yeses” to God even when things were not clear to her, and even when she had to go through much suffering, call for GRATITUDE from all human beings—Christians and non-Christians alike. God’s work of salvation through Jesus is not exclusively for Christians, but for the WHOLE OF HUMANITY.
We celebrate birthdays to thank God for the years of graces and blessings we have received from him since birth. Today, we celebrate the birthday of our Mother, Mary, for the extraordinary graces and blessings she received from God, and for the many years she has been a blessing to all of us who follow Jesus.
Happy, happy birthday to you, Mary, our dearest Mother! Thank you for being the Mother that you are to all of us, God’s children. Amen.
