Fr Ed Homily 9-8-20

Mary’s Birthday

This day kind of just slips by us. In many ways, I think of this day comparable to someone who is born on Christmas or close to Christmas. Your family knows you have a birthday at the same time. They try to do something special for your birthday, but it is almost impossible because of the great season of Christmas. I have a great deal of empathy for people born around Christmas or any other celebrated day in our culture.

It is important to remember Mary’s ‘birth day’. There are only three birthdays remembered in the gospels: Jesus, Mary, and John the Baptist. The other “birth dates” remembered are the Saints when they are born into heaven, the day they died to this earth. And Mary is even remembered on the day of her conception. We call it the Immaculate Conception which happens nine months before today on December 8. We are relatively certain that Mary’s mother’s name is Ann. And tradition tells us her father’s name was Joachim. The grandparents for Jesus. It would be a good thing to stop a moment today and remember Mary’s parents. For all parents today, remember when your children were born? Remember when you called your parents for the first time and told them they were grandparents? For you who have children, remember the feelings you had when you were told for the first time that you are now grandparents?

The gospel today lists the genealogy of Jesus today. It has that long list of names that are hard to say. Some names that are even more difficult to remember. But they are the history of the Savior. Just as important, remember this, this is how the Holy Spirit moved and acted throughout all of history. Bringing this remarkable story of salvation for us together in one person, Jesus. And Jesus needed Mary’s fiat, her yes to make it all happened. Holy Mary, pray for us.

May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen