Many
days passed before Almighty God finally completed the masterpiece of
His creation. For nine months, the soul of Mary had given form to her
virginal body, and the hour, the moment, of her joyful birth approached.
As the suffocating Palestinian summer neared its end, the mellowing sun
poured abundant torrents of golden light on the opulent plain of
Samaria, ripening the rich orchards of autumn fruit. On a magnificent
September day, with nature adorned in radiant beauty, the most Holy
Virgin came into the world in the white-walled city of Nazareth.
She
was probably born in the same house where the great mystery of the
Incarnation later took place and where Jesus spent most of His childhood
and youth in work and prayer. The angels did not acclaim the coming of
the glorious Queen with hymns of joy as they later did the birth of the
Savior. Invisible to the eyes of mortal men, the angels considered it an
honor to mount guard around the humble crib over which Saints Joachim
and Anne lovingly watched. The prophecy of Isaiah had come to pass. The
root of Jesse, ten centuries removed, had sprouted a new branch. On this
same branch in but a few years more would blossom the eternal Flower,
the Incarnate Word.
The day the Queen of Heaven was born ranks as
one of the most beautiful in history since it announced to condemned
mankind the long-awaited time of liberation. The birth of Mary begins
the work of Redemption. In her crib, the mother of the Savior
illuminates the desolate earth with the grace of her first smiles. Jesus
will soon appear and, with His Precious Blood, will erase the sentence
of our condemnation. The world which has suffered so much from the
ravages of sin will finally delight in the joy of liberty and peace.
Slavery will everywhere be abolished, and human dignity will henceforth
be respected. Like a flowing stream, graces will spring forth in
abundance from the sacraments. We have but to approach and draw from
them — without limit — pardon, courage, and life everlasting.
The
God who hid in Paradise will descend to earth and never abandon
mankind. After His Ascension, Our Lord will remain among us under the
Eucharistic veil until the end of time. Christ will visibly reign over
the glorious souls of the resurrected elect. Such are the great joys the
birth of Mary announces. “Thy nativity, O Virgin Mother of God has
announced joy to the whole world.”
According to certain
traditions, no one in the small town of Nazareth where Saints Joachim
and Anne lived paid heed to the new arrival. Although the blood of King
David flowed in her veins, her family had fallen from its ancient
splendor. Who noticed these impoverished people?
Anne
and Joachim had been childless for many years, but the Lord had at last
answered their prayers. They saw their daughter Mary as the measure of
His celestial goodness to them. Little did they suspect, however, the
veritable treasures the Most High had instilled in the soul of their
child. They could not have imagined the wonder of her Immaculate
Conception. They did not realize that the Mother of the Redeemer now lay
in their loving arms.
The Jews of the time were plunged in
discouragement. The voice of the prophets had not been heard for years.
Having lost their political freedom, they believed Divine Providence had
abandoned them.
It was then that the hidden work of infinite Mercy began to be accomplished in their midst.
If
only the obscurity of Our Lady’s birth would teach us to make little of
human greatness! Let us keep a Christian perspective of indifference
toward the fleeting vanities that Christ Himself shunned in His Mother’s
birth. Were these important, surely He would not have refused them to
His mother.
This great mystery also teaches us never to lose
heart. The Immaculate Mother came into the world at a time when the Jews
had lost hope. Indeed, they thought all was lost. Let us reap the
benefit of this lesson. We often become discouraged when, calling on
heaven to assist us, our request is not immediately granted. Sometimes
God waits until we are on the brink of the abyss before extending His
hand of mercy. So, let us not become discouraged and cease praying! The
Almighty will intervene at the very moment when we believe ourselves
completely abandoned. If we have confidence — an unlimited supply of
confidence — we will be greatly rewarded!
First Photo by: Ralph Hammann
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