8 September 2027 · Syro-Malankara Rite
Open in the Daily Word appAlso: മലയാളം
“A great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” Revelation 12:1
Today the Church rejoices at a birth. According to ancient tradition, a daughter was born to Joachim and Anna, and they named her Mary. No angels sang over Bethlehem that day, but heaven rejoiced, for the one who would be the Mother of God had come into the world. The Church celebrates only three birthdays: the birth of Christ, of John the Baptist and of Mary, because each was holy from the very beginning.
In the garden God called: “Where are you?” Adam and Eve were hiding in shame. Then God promised the woman whose offspring would strike the serpent's head. Isaiah gave King Ahaz a sign: “the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel”; St Matthew reads it as fulfilled in the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:23). With Mary's birth the dawn breaks before the Sun of Justice rises.
The Song of Songs sings: “You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.” The Church applies these words to Mary, who by a singular grace was preserved from all stain of original sin from the first moment of her conception. Her beauty is not her own achievement but the work of God's grace, preparing a worthy dwelling for his Son.
St John sees “a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” She gives birth to the Son who will rule the nations, and the dragon is defeated. The woman is Mary and the Church together. Yet the Gospel reminds us what makes Mary great: “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” Her birthday invites us to be born again each day into doing God's will.
Theme: “The dawn before the Sun.”
Today the Church rejoices at the birth of the Mother of God. According to ancient tradition she was born to Joachim and Anne. Her birth is the dawn that announces the rising of Christ, the Sun of justice. The Eight Days' Fast ends.
“You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.” Song of Songs 4:7
“And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”” Luke 1:28
Apply: Thank God for the gift of your own baptism, which washed away original sin.
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14
“All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”” Matthew 1:22–23
Apply: Pray the Angelus at noon each day this week.
“I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8
“Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:35
Apply: Make one decision this week by asking: what is God's will here?
Mary's birth is a feast of hope: God's plan of salvation is moving toward its fulfilment.
Let us celebrate our Mother's birthday by becoming more like her.
Take-home resolution: Celebrate the day as a family: honour mothers and grandmothers, and pray for them.
Dear brothers and sisters, today we celebrate a birthday: the birthday of our Mother. According to ancient tradition, a daughter was born to Joachim and Anna after many years of prayer, and they called her Mary. The world did not notice, but heaven rejoiced. St Andrew of Crete says: today the Creator of all has built himself a new temple.
In the garden after the first sin, God called: “Where are you?” Humanity was hiding in shame. But God did not abandon us. He promised a woman whose offspring would crush the serpent's head. Isaiah spoke of the virgin who would bear Immanuel. Mary's birth is the dawn; Christ is the sun that follows.
The Song of Songs says: “You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you.” The Church sees Mary there: preserved by God's grace from all sin from the first moment of her life, so that she might be a pure dwelling for the Son of God. Her beauty is God's gift.
And yet Jesus says: “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” Mary is great not only because she was chosen, but because she said yes. On her birthday, let us give her the gift she loves most: a heart ready to do God's will. Let us also thank God for our own mothers, and pray for every child waiting to be born. Amen.
Children, today is Mother Mary's birthday! Happy birthday, Mary!
God made Mary very special and full of grace, so she could be Jesus' mother.
What gift can you give Mary? A Hail Mary, and being kind like her!
Lord God, you made the birth of the Virgin Mary the dawn of our salvation. Grant that we who celebrate her birthday may be born anew in your grace, do your will as she did, and come with her to the joy of your Son, who lives and reigns for ever. Amen.