American writer and humorist Mark Twain once wrote: “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Mary had known early on that her singular purpose in life was to love, honor, and serve God. At the annunciation, she finally learned how her love for God had to find concrete expression. As the mother of Jesus, she would carry the baby in her womb and give birth to him. She would raise Jesus as a young boy and be with him until such time when he would embark on a very challenging public ministry. Mary would stand beside her Son up to the foot of the cross.

God prepared Mary for this gargantuan task of becoming the mother of Jesus the Savior. When Mary was conceived in her mother’s womb, she was spared from the stain of original sin. In short, there was no “garbage” in the genes handed on by her mother Anna to Mary. God filled Mary with divine favor, illumining her in the deepest mysteries that confronted her. She received consolation and light from God in her darkest moments. She lived a trying but a meaningful and purposeful life since everything about her was oriented towards her Son, the Savior of all humanity.

First Reading • Mi 5:1-4a or

Rom 8:28-30

The Lord says: You, Bethlehem-Ephrathah, too small to be among the clans of Judah, From you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; Whose origin is from of old, from ancient times. (Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time when she who is to give birth has borne, And the rest of his brethren shall return to the children of Israel.) He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the Lord, in the majestic name of the Lord, his God; And they shall remain, for now his greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth; he shall be peace.

Responsorial Psalm • Ps 13

“With delight I rejoice in the Lord.”

Gospel • Mt 18-23

[or 1:1-16, 18-23]

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means “God is with us.”