Reflections on Scripture | Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
Matthew 1:18-23

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."

Reflection

The Old Testament is filled with truth, but the New Testament adds so much to what it was teaching. The prophecy is that God one day will be with us.

His name will be Emmanuel. But then when He comes the name given to him is Jesus, and it's the image of the reason God is going to become part of our life in a more intimate way, because He's there to save us from evil, from sin, from destruction. He's not just with us, but He's in us.

Closing Prayer

God, it’s only with your grace that were able to dig deeply into the fullness of who God is in this world with us. Keep us open to the realization of something so amazing that it's hard for us to comprehend. We tend to work on our own to please God, but the key is to allow God to work through us. And we ask this In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kyle Cross