It is 8th day of September here in the Phils. My friend, Marivic is celebrating her birthday today. She is a professor in a prestigious university in Naga City. She teaches Filipino subjects in the College of Education. She is fondly called Avic by her close friends and colleagues. She is a dedicated teacher, a good friend and a mother. Avic’s name was taken from Our Blessed Virgin Mary. I always remember my friend’s birthday as it coincides with Mother Mary’s. But as a devout Catholic, I keep remembering how Our Blessed Virgin Mary became a mother to all.
One
day, the angel
Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth to a virgin
engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s
name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favoured one! The Lord
is with you.” The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God."
And now, you
will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be
great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give
to him the throne of his ancestor
David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his
kingdom there will be no end.” Mary said to the
angel, “How can this be since I am a virgin?”
The angel said to her “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the
power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the child to be born
will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age
has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who is said to be
barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.” Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the
Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from
her.
In the Catholic
tradition, Mary is honored as Mother of Jesus. She is the perfect example of
how the feminine power of God manifests itself as a “Mother, just as Christ is
the perfect example of the power of God when embodied as a “Son”. She is Our Blessed Virgin Mary. We celebrate
and honor her birthday today. As a
mother, she remained pure, chaste, loving, compassionate and above all, a
humble servant of God.
Happy Birthday Mama Mary!
We love you!
We love you!
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