GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 8TH SEPTEMBER 2016
THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
1ST READING: Micah 5:1-4 OR Romans 8:28-30
PSALM: Psalm 13:6
GOSPEL: Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23
THEME: A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE
In the field of advertisement, it appears having an image of a semi-nude woman by one’s product is a marketing strategy to entice prospective buyers. This seems to work for quite a number of companies. In fact some industries demand that female employees dress in a “hot” fashion to boost business. With such weird manoeuvres in our socio-economic terrain, many people, with the passage of time, have come to associate women with objects of pleasure and consequently have glossed over certain core values of womanhood.
In the person and life of Mary, we catch a glimpse of the true sense of womanhood. As one ponders over her story, without any denominational prejudices, one comes to a deeper understanding of the Creator’s intention when he formed woman in His image and likeness. A woman was created to be a vessel of purity and honour. A woman is an agent of life – bringing forth and sustaining life itself.
Joseph had found out that Mary was carrying a baby that he (Joseph) had no hand in its existence. He was seriously contemplating on washing his hands off Mary when an angel of the Lord addressed him in these words, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Mt 1:20-21). In sum, the angel told Joseph that Mary – a woman – had been chosen by the Holy Spirit to bring forth into the world the saviour of the whole human race.
To celebrate the birthday of a person is basically to appreciate the life of that person and to thank God for such a gift. In yielding to the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, Mary became the “spouse of the Holy Spirit” and consequently, salvation passed through her womb to the rest of humanity. By that singular act, she has become a gift to all generations and we need to celebrate this gift as we thank God for her life.
Prayer: Thank you Eternal Father for the gift of Mary, a woman ever docile to the promptings of your Spirit. Through her intercession may our faith in your Son Jesus Christ be deepened. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).