Instead of a Saint of the week, I thought this week we might explore one of the Churches ancient feasts, “The Nativity of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary.” Most of us within the Protestant tradition don’t give much thought to this feast, in fact I believe only the Anglican communion has left it on their calendar. I personally think our disregard for this blessed day is a travesty. Mary was indeed the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ, true God and true man, and so is rightly called Theotokos, the Mother of God. (For more on that read my previous post on the subject)
In her womb divinity was joined to flesh. It was by her body that God crafted incarnation. Is it not good and right to celebrate such an instrument of God’s grace? At Mary’s birth the first shades of color before the dawn begin to show on the horizon. Glory to God!
Many Protestants may take some offense to the weight I put on Mary. I have often heard people say, “she was simply a vessel that God used. God could have used any other woman. Why is she so special?”
Mary is special because God DID choose her. We do not serve a god of the hypothetical or a god of the philosopher, but the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.
It was because Abraham was called that he is called the “father of faith”
It was because Israel was chosen that it is called “a light for the nations”
It was because David was selected that is was given “a kingdom established forever.”
It is not Mary in herself that we celebrate this week, but God’s grace manifested in history through her. Just like the moon that gives no light on it’s own so is Mary. She is the vessel God choose to shine his blessings on so that the world might receive light.
Finally there is nothing said of Mary that is not also true of us. God has chosen you and I as vessels to show his light to the world as well. By giving us The Holy Spirit, God has called us to be international ministers of his Grace. Glory to God!
Here are the things you should know about the “The Nativity of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary.”
- It was placed in September because the Eastern Church began their year in September 8th
- The Catholic church uses this date to determine the date of the feast of “the Immaculate Conception”
- According to tradition she was Born to Joachim and Anna, two aged parents who were promised the birth of their daughter by an Angel.
- The Catholic Church belives she was Conceived and born without the stains of “Original Sin.” This is what is meant by “the Immaculate Conception”
- Tradition also tells us she comes from the line of David (through her father) and the tribe of Levi (through her Mother).
The Orthodox church Celibrates this day with the following Apolytikion:
Your birth, O Theotokos, brought joy to the whole world, for from you dawned the sun of righteousness, Christ our God. Freeing us from the curse, He gave us His blessings. Abolishing death, He granted us eternal life.
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