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A Reflection on Mary and the Birth of Christ
Fr. Peter West, Priest Associate
Priests for Life
Advent is a season of waiting with Mary to celebrate the birth of Our
Lord Jesus Christ. It is a good time to reflect on the pregnancy of Mary
as she waited in joyful expectation for the birth of her son.
We reflect during Advent that Jesus was a pre-born child. The moment
of the Incarnation took place not on Christmas Day at his birth, but at
the Annunciation which we celebrate on March 25 - nine months earlier.
Jesus the Eternal Word took flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
by the power of the Holy Spirit, after she consented to God’s plan
announced by the Archangel Gabriel.
Reflecting on Mary’s pregnancy can teach us patience and the attitude
of joyful expectation that all of us should have as we prepare to
celebrate the birth of Jesus and as we wait for his second coming in
glory at the end of time. This attitude of joyful expectation should
accompany the pregnancy of every woman as we await the birth of her
pre-born child. Each child is made in the image and likeness of God no
matter what their handicaps or circumstances of conception. Every child
deserves a chance to be born and to continue to grow and develop outside
the womb. Jesus identifies with the pre-born since he himself was a
pre-born child. Jesus went through all the stages of development that we
went through. He was a tiny zygote, an embryo, fetus, infant, child,
adolescent and an adult. At no time did he become more human. He simply
went through different stages of human development as we all did. When
Jesus was developing in the womb he was not a potential person.
Mary also can identify with every pregnant mother in a difficult
pregnancy. She did not fully understand God’s plan, yet she trusted. True
devotion to Mary means imitating her virtues – her faith, her trust and
her willingness to make sacrifices for the sake of her son and others as
she stayed with Elizabeth for three moths to help Elizabeth deliver St.
John the Baptist. When Mary visited St. Elizabeth John the Baptist leapt
for joy within St. Elizabeth’s womb as he recognized Christ’s presence in
Mary. Thus we see John who was a fetus recognizing Christ who was a tiny
embryo. This should lead us to an even greater respect for the lives of
pre-born children and inspire us to work for their protection. Jesus says
"Whatever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters that you do
to me." (Mat. 25, 40)
St. Joseph cared for Mary during her pregnancy. He is an example for
all men of the stewardship they are called to exercise. Men are called to
respect the wonder of procreation and to care for pregnant women
emotionally, materially and spiritually. During their pregnancies women
become vulnerable should be able to rely on the support of their husbands
and other men in their life who should respect and assist women as the
mystery of life unfolds within them.
It is fitting that there are major feasts of Our Lady during the
celebration of Advent – the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and the
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Mary appeared as a pregnant woman to
Blessed Juan Diego in Mexico in 1531. She identified herself to be
"the perpetual and perfect Virgin Mary, holy mother of the true God
through whom everything lives, the Creator and Master of heaven and
earth". She also proclaimed herself as Juan Diego’s "merciful
mother, the mother of all of you who live united in this land, and of all
humankind, of all those who love me, of those who cry out to me, of those
who seek me, of those who have confidence in me." Mary showed love
to a people who had just escaped from the diabolical Aztec Empire in
which human sacrifices were offered to false gods. Pope John Paul II
proclaimed Our Lady of Guadalupe to be the Patroness of the Americas. She
is also recognized as the Patroness of the Unborn.
We recognize that Mary’s life began at the moment of her conception in
the womb of St. Ann. From the first instant and throughout her life she
remained free from sin. Through the Immaculate Conception God gave
humankind a new start. The name "Eve" means "mother of all
the living", but because of her disobedience Eve brought sin, death
and suffering into the world. When Jesus calls Mary "Woman" in
the Gospel of John at the Wedding Feast of Cana and at the foot of the
cross Jesus was affirmed her mission as the new Eve. Mary is more truly
the mother of all the living.
Mary said yes to God and Jesus Christ was conceived in her womb by the
power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the
Life, so Mary is truly the Mother of Our Life. From the cross Jesus our
Life gave Mary to us to be our mother. Mary throughout history has come
to the aid of her people. As Mary put an end to the culture of death in
Mexico we pray today that she will intercede for the United States. In
1846 the Bishops of the United States dedicated our nation to the
Immaculate Conception. Ask Mary to intercede for us to put an end to the
tragedies of abortion, euthanasia and other attacks on human life that we
might lead other nations to respect the dignity and value of each and
every human life from conception to natural death.
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