Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

If George Lucas were directing movies about the feasts of the Church, I'm sure he'd entitle today's feast: "The Origin of Mary: a Prequel!" And not un-rightly so because her birth was indeed important. According to the Troparion, the birth of Mary is said to have "brought joy to the whole universe." This is because Mary's birth, long anticipated and looked for upon the horizon of history, now looms tauntingly close - as does the beginnings of our salvation. Mary's birth therefore, sets in motion the possibility for her to be the Chosen One who would bear, give birth, and hold God in human form - just as had been prophesied and foretold through Holy Scripture, thus making this feast a truly cosmic event!

Fr. John