Homily – Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Birthdays are always celebrations.
They remind us of life as gift.
We rejoice because someone exists who did not exist before.

Today we celebrate the birthday of Mary.
A little girl born in Nazareth, unknown to the world.
But her birth was the dawn of salvation.
Because through her, Christ would come.

Micah prophesied: “From Bethlehem shall come forth one who is to rule Israel — whose origin is from of old.”
God chose not the great city but the small town.
Not the strong, but the weak.
Not the powerful, but the humble.

Mary’s birth shows the same pattern.
No fanfare, no court, no palace.
Just a child, a girl, a hidden life.

But God delights to begin in the hidden.
Seeds in the soil.
Yeast in the dough.
A baby in a manger.
A maiden in Nazareth.

What is small in the world is great in God’s plan.

Romans reminds us: “God works all things for good for those who love Him.”
Mary is the perfect example.
From the first moment of her existence she was prepared by God’s grace —
Immaculate, unstained, ready to be the Mother of the Saviour.

Her birthday is not just another date.
It is the celebration of God’s plan unfolding.
Her life is pure gift, pure grace.

And if God prepared her so carefully,
we can trust He has a plan for us too.

Mary shows us what God can do with a single “yes.”

The Gospel gives us the genealogy of Jesus.
Names upon names.
Generations waiting.
And at the centre, one name: Mary.

She is the hinge of salvation history.
All before her looks forward.
All after her flows from her.

Through her comes Emmanuel, “God-with-us.”
The eternal God takes flesh.
He does not descend as lightning.
He comes through a mother.
Through Mary.

That is why we honour her.
Not as rival to Christ.
But as His door, His chosen vessel.

Today is not only Our Lady’s birthday.
It is our parish’s feast.
St Mary’s is not just a name on a church sign.
It is a reminder: this is her house.
This is her parish.
We are her children.

What does that mean?

It means this parish must be Marian.
Marian in prayer: learning from Mary to ponder the Word.
Marian in humility: not seeking status but service.
Marian in trust: saying “yes” even when we do not see the whole picture.
Marian in mission: bringing Christ into the world.

A Marian parish is not noisy with self-promotion.
It is steady, faithful, rooted in Christ.
Like Mary.

We want renewal.
We want this parish to be alive.
How will it happen?

Not first through plans or programmes.
But through grace.
Through Mary’s prayer.
Through us imitating her.

If we pray the Rosary,
if we keep close to the sacraments,
if we open our homes to Christ as she opened hers,
then renewal will come.

Because Mary always leads us to Jesus.
She never keeps the spotlight.
She points and says: “Do whatever He tells you.”

There’s a story of a king who gave his son a kingdom.
The son said: “I cannot rule this alone.”
So he turned to his mother:
“Stand by me, guide me, remind me who I am.”

That is what Christ has done.
He reigns, but He gives us His Mother.
So that we never forget who we are: children of God.

And she stands by us still —
at Bethlehem, at Cana, at Calvary, at Pentecost.
And here, at St Mary’s.

So what does this feast ask of us?

First: gratitude.
Thank God for Mary’s birth, for her “yes,” for her care.
Without her, no Jesus. Without Jesus, no salvation.

Second: imitation.
Say “yes” as she did.
When asked to pray, to forgive, to serve, to love.
Do not delay.

Third: entrustment.
Give this parish to her again.
Give your family to her.
Give your heart to her.

Because to belong to Mary is to belong to Jesus.

Birthdays are beginnings.
Today is Mary’s birthday.
It is also a new beginning for us.

Let us ask her to pray for us:
that St Mary’s parish may be truly hers —
humble, faithful, fruitful, Marian.