Pastor Speaks
KNOW MARY TO LIVE LIKE MARY
When we look at the Bible, we find Mary somewhere between Queen of Heaven and peasant girl. She is the fourth-most mentioned New Testament character after Jesus, Peter, and Paul. And she, more than any other disciple, consistently points people to her Son. When Gabriel appeared to her with the disconcerting news that God had chosen her to bear the Messiah, Mary submitted. She asked a clarifying question (How is this going to work?), then answered, “May it be done to me according to your will” (Lk 1,38). Her joyful response is recorded in her song, Magnificat. Young, female, and poor versus old, male, and high-ranking— with this contrast Luke begins a pattern of highlighting the lowly as favored by God, a counter-cultural, upside down perspective.
Greetings to our parishioners! At the onset I wish you all a happy “Monti Fest” in remembrance of birth of Mary, Mother of God. This year the parish reflects on how we can nurture a holy, healthy and loving family. As a pastor, I have a deep respect for every family our parish and wish each family a great family feast during this season. In this issue of tidings I am addressing a vast topic of family life, by giving a birds eye view from a scriptural, church and cultural perspective.
The Biblical family
Gen 6: 18 says “J will establish my covenant with you; and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and
She gives birth to Jesus in Bethlehem and raises him in Nazareth with Joseph. Mary was an excellent Jew, eager to follow the Law in spirit and letter. For instance, she and Joseph take baby Jesus to the temple (Lk 2,23–4), “according to the Law,” for his circumcision. They offered the required sacrifice of two pigeons, signifying their poverty. Luke tells us that they went to the temple every year (Lk 2,41) for Passover.
Mary prompts Jesus to perform his first public miracle by turning water into wine. In John 2, at the wedding at Cana, she knew who Jesus was and trusted him to do right. After the wedding, she and his siblings moved to Capernaum with him (Jn 2,12). She stood near the cross as he suffered and died. She stuck with him through his ministry, arrest, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. She stands faithfully at the foot of the cross, where Jesus entrusts her care to the disciple John. She is last mentioned in Acts 1,14, praying with the disciples in Jerusalem just before Pentecost. All Christian traditions view Mary as an exemplary
believer who trusted God’s word.
The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary commemorates the birth of Mary to her parents, Saints Joachim and Anne, marking the joyful dawn of a divine plan that led to the birth of Jesus. By celebrating her birth we honor Mary for her participation in the plan of God. Here was a teenage Jewish girl well aware of the patriarchal environment in which she was raised and the stringent laws which applied. She was not accustomed to taking decisions that had not been endorsed by an elder and, if found pregnant out of wedlock, she could have been stoned to death. Though she was born sinless, chosen by God to be the mother of His son, she still had the free will that is granted to all of us. Given the possible outcome, Mary could have said ‘no’.
It is an outstanding testament to her strength of character and her implicit faith in God that she willingly placed her life unconditionally in His hands. Today, as we celebrate the birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary, let us remember with love and gratitude her role in our salvation. Let us be reminded, too, that God has a plan for each of us. Like Mary, we have the option to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’. What will our answer be?
On the occasion of the feast of Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary, parish organizes special community processions, floral offerings to the Infant Mary (Maria Bambina), thank God for the new corn, grateful celebration of the Eucharist, liturgy based on the girl child, participated by the women and widows’ cells and celebration of the novem jevon along with the family members and members of the parish. It is widely observed as a core family feast where households gather in prayer, often blessing the first fruits or new harvest of the season to offer thanks. In this celebration we participate with Mary the Girl, Mary the Family along with Joseph and Jesus, the Jesus the New Fruit Jesus, and the new dawn of life in her Son Jesus the Eucharistic Lord. As a parish we follow her closely to lead us to Jesus our Lord.
Inviting every girl and the woman in the family to follow Mary in her courage to be a mother; every boy and a man to be like her just husband Joseph and nurture a family within the presence of Jesus. Wishing the Girl Child, happy Girlchild day, the families, Happy Family feast and everyone Happy Feast of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Fr. Lawrence D’Cunha, OCD
Parish Priest