Born Of A Woman

Today is a day for blessings as well it should being the first day of 2016.   Who knows what’s in store for each of us?   We can only hope for glad tiding and the courage to deal with whatever adversity we must face.

I paraphrase our first reading:  “May the LORD bless us and keep us!  May the LORD let his face shine upon us, and be gracious to us!  May the LORD look kindly upon us and give us peace!”   And the Responsorial Psalm: “May God bless us in his mercy.”  

We can all use these blessings, but at the same time we should all realize we are already blessed – blessed with life even if that life has become one of struggle with illness, old age, and loss.  

With today being the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, it’s best we consider the second reading verse: “Brothers and sisters: When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law…”  Born of a woman, Jesus shares our humanity. 

Mary conceived our Christ.  Now we must share that experience by making room for Christ in ourselves and by carrying him to term – not for just nine months, but for the rest of our lives. 

Deacon David Pierce