With the Birth of Mary, God is with Us

Gospel Thoughts

*Ordinary Season : 23rd Week - Wednesday*

*ಭಾಗಿ ಮೊಂತಿ ಫೆಸ್ತ್*

*Happy Feast of Nativity of BVM*

*GOSPEL - Mt 1:1-16, 18-23 or Mt 1:18-23*

*First Reading - Mic 5:1-4a*

*Or*

*Rom 8:28-30*

*With the Birth of Mary, God is with Us*

*1) The Phrase : God is with us*

Even though today we are celebrating the Feast of the birth of Mary, we have the goodnews of Jesus' Birth.

In other words the Birth of Mary has direct connection with the Birth of Jesus 

The Phrase *God is with us* gets special meaning with the birth of Mary. 

We can very well read into the life of Mary the phrase *God is with us*

*2) Mary Was born with out sin - means God is with Us*

Wherever there is no sin, there is God. So we see that there is no sting of sin in the life of Mary, which means, God is with us 

The immaculate conception of Mary is another example to show the purity of her life, which once again highlights the phrase *God is with Us*

*3) Yes, I am the handmaid of the Lord, it means God is with us*

When Mary said, yes, immediately, the word of God entered in her womb, and God dwlet in her womb, which is nothing but *God is with us*

The conception through the Holy Spirit is once again the proof for the fact that *God is with us*

*4) Through out her life, Jesus was with Mary - God is with us*

From the moment of conception till the moment of His death, Jesus was with Mary 

In fact the birth of Mary was specially designed for the birth of Jesus. So there is always a reference to Jesus birth, in the birth of Mary 

So the concept God is with us, becomes very meaningful to the birth and life of Mary 

*5) Today in the Church the person of Mary means, God is with us*

The church has given maximum importance to our Blessed mother, because of her role in the salvation History

Being with Mary could be equated with the phrase *God is with us*

Every apparition of Mary has only one message *God is with us, but the question are we with God?* is powerfully seen 

The Role of Mary in the church somehow reflects the phrase *God is with us* Either she warns about it or she brings us close to the realisation that God is really with us 

*6) With Mary am I able to realise the importance of the phrase God is with us?*

Mary gets importance because of this phrase 

When I am with Mary this phrase should enlighten my mind and heart 

This phrase was responsible for the immaculate conception and the entire holy life of Mary 

This phrase became the foundation for Mary's life 

If so what is the foundation for my life?

With the birth of Mary, how do I understand the phrase *God is with us?*

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*