8 th SEPTEMBER : MOTHER MARY'S BIRTHDAY

08 SEPTEMBER 2025: BIRTHDAY OF MARY, MIC 5. 2-4; MATT 1. 18-23 Focus: Birthday is a reminder that birth is a gift of God gratuitously and generously donated by God. So our life must always carry this divine touch 1. 08 September is a great holy and happy day for all the Catholics as they celebrate their mother Mary's birthday. Which son, which daughter does not rejoice over her mother's birthday? Today, in the first place, let us greet her with a happy birthday with all the affection in our hearts. Let us kiss her, embrace her and tell her that we simply love her so much. Let us thank God for giving birth to her because if she was not born, we will not be born as her children. 2. In the Telugu language, there is an old birthday song that says, "birthday is a feast for all but how many really know why there are born?" The beauty, the meaning, and the value of birth is when one lives the gifted life meaningfully and purposefully. 3. In this sense, Mary certainly lived her gift of life as a gift to God and to others. We can mark two phases in her life: one, before the Annunciation and the other, after the Annunciation. This distinction is made because as we know, Annunciation marks a decisive and definitive moment in her life when the purpose and mission, and destiny of her life were disclosed to her. The Angel announces that she would be the mother of the incarnate savior and thus becomes a pivotal collaborator in God's plan of salvation. From then on, her life was lived in an intense consciousness of her vocation. 4. However, even before this disclosure of the purpose of her life, even before the annunciation, still her life was no less purposeful. Her life has always been a continuous act of faith and faithfulness. This comprises a profound spirit of humility, docility, and surrender. Concretely, these manifest themselves in a life of devotion and benevolence. 5. Now, we can further reflect on her birth in the light of 1 John 2. 29 and 3.9, 10. The Word speaks of those born of God. This very much fits our Sweetest, Mother Mary. She was born not only of a human womb but much more she was born of God. She is born of God because she commits no sin, she does what is right and she loves others. These are three distinguishing marks of those born of God. 6. After all this simple reflection, what is the birthday message for us? Like Mary, live a life of faith and faithfulness, in humility, docility, and surrender through the daily practice of devotion and benevolence. Live like her, like those who are born of God. This means that we resist committing sin. We do what is right. Love others as sisters and brothers. Direction: A fitting birthday gift to the Mother is our own filial affection and devotion to her, which eventually leads to emulation of her example