NAME, SWEET NAME OF MARY!

September 8, 2010
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Matthew 1:1-16,18-23

Names: On this birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we heard in the Gospel proclamation, the genealogy of Jesus. So many names! I cannot but be amused every time I read these names out. Do you find your name there? If the genealogy of Jesus were to be written today, your and my name would find a place there. In the Matthean account of the family tree of Jesus, we have the names of those who connected the salvation history of Israel. Among these, some names are hard to pronounce, some are too odd to remember, some are very familiar, and yet some of these names are very sweet to me evoking great love, devotion and faith. The genealogy began with the name of Abraham, and ended with Jesus, the Emmanuel, the Son of Mary. The name of Jesus is the name above all names, the name before which all knees bend. Jesus brought us the name of God, a God who has been shied away from revealing His name to the prophets of the old. In Jesus, we know that God is Love, and He is with us. This name fills us with joy, adoration and hope. Another name, that lifts our spirit and draws us in joy is that of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and our mother, too! The name of Mary is great and sweet not because we love her name, but more so, because God loves her name. The name of Mary has been in the heart of God even before He accomplished creation. Mary’s name was in the mind of God when He dwelled on the plan of salvation.

Speaking about names, I am reminded of a story I heard when I was in grade two. Abou Ben Adhem woke one day from a deep dream of peace, and saw, within the moonlight in his room, an Angel seated on a throne and writing in a book of gold. Abou was amused, at the vision, and in peace and courage he asked the Angel, “May I know, your grace, what are you writing in the book?” The angel raised his head gave a sweet glance at Abou and said, “I am writing the names of those who love the Lord”. Abou asked in anticipation, “Is my name there?”, to which the angel said, “sorry, Abou, your name is not yet in this book”. Abou’s face fell. Yet in peace, in a lower tone he said, “I pray, you then, write my name as someone who loves his fellow men”. The angel wrote and vanished. The next night, the angel came again with a great wakening light, and showed Abou another book in which were written the names of those who were loved by God. The angel then declare, “Here in this book of names, Abou Ben Adham, your name is first among those who are loved by God”.

Mama Mary’s name, we love it. Her name is great not because she loved the name of the Lord more than anyone else. But more so, because she is the first among those loved by the Lord. Remember what the angel told her at the annunciation: “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is pleased with you!”. And Mary said, “the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is His name… All generations will call me blessed… (Lk 1: 48-49). God loved her from the beginning of creation, set her apart, gave her immaculate conception, and handed her His Son, to be cared for and to present Him to the world. Her name is closer to His heart that she was assumed into the throne of God, in body and soul.

Indeed, all generations will praise the name of Mary. Blessed be her name! The name of Mary is so sweet to us that we cannot even count how many names and titles we attribute to her. We call her in so many names because, for every need, every occasion, every struggle, we have our Mother coning to our rescue. We gather today to sing the praise of Mary, to glorify God for the great gift of Mary, and to thank Him for giving us a mother who is the model of all virtues. In Mary, God has taken shape, form and a name. In her, we have come to be beloved to the Father. In her, God has come to live with us. The Emmanuel is as much a gift of God to Mary, so also a gift of Mary to us.

We celebrate her birthday because she is our beloved Mother. As we celebrate her, we are also celebrating our life. A mother is pleased and happy when her children band together around her. It is the greatest joy of a mother to see her children united in love and growing in sharing and mutual understanding. Let us give our Blessed Mother that joy today by strengthening our familial and community bond, love and strengthening our relationships.

Mama Mary's name is sweet to us because she is a wonderful mother. She never abandons us. When she was here on earth, she left her hart with God in heaven. She left her heart with Jesus. Now when she is in heaven, she has left her heart with us here on earth. Mary cannot be happily seated in heaven as long as we, her children reach her in heaven. Her heart is with us. This is why, when we are in trouble, as a loving Mother she rushes to our help. When we are in pain, in distress and agony, our Blessed Mother feels our pain and she comes down to comfort us and to give us strength. What a grace for us to remember, that we have a Mother who is in heaven, whose heart is with us. So, keep clinging to her. Open your heart to your mother. Tell her of your struggles, pains and inadequacies. Tell her your stories. Since the time Jesus entrusted John to her as her son, Mary has kept us all in her heart, she has accepted us as her beloved children. She loves us as she loved Jesus. As she took care of Jesus today she takes care of us. As she carried Jesus in her hands, she carries us and brings us to the presence of the Heavenly and constantly intercedes for us. So on her birthday, ask the blessed mother, a special gift, a special favor that you need today.

On her birthday let us also give Mama Mary a birthday gift. Let us give her the best. The best gift we can give our Blessed Mother is the gift she gave us. The best gift she gave us is Jesus. Let us also give Jesus to others today. In our love, compassion, care, forgiveness and acts of charity we bring Jesus to others and share His presence with others. When we become mirrors of the Emmanuel, God with us, we become true children of Mary.

Happy birthday Mama Mary! We are happy for you, and because of you, Blessed Mother! I pray, you will be happy for me as well!