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Daily Reflections

Daily Scripture, September 8, 2025

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Scripture:

Micah 5:1-4a or Romans 8:28-30
Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23

Reflection:

In Saint Matthew’s gospel, the story of Jesus’ birth is told mostly through the eyes of Joseph. He is the one to whom the Lord reveals the Divine plan and Joseph is the one who is the principal actor in these early events. Joseph is however an ‘actor who never speaks’ either in interactions with others or indeed in his dialogue with the Lord. Joseph is a silent witness, but an acute listener and one who acts on every instruction given by the lord (albeit in dreams).

However, while the scripture highlights Joseph’s role in the birth of Jesus, today our focus is drawn towards Mary since the liturgy of today celebrates her birth – a Feast Day that has been celebrated in the Church from around the sixth century onwards.

Tradition celebrates Mary’s parents as Anne and Joachim (who only have the one child Mary herself). We know little of the life of Mary prior to her call by God and her marriage to Joseph, and as to Mary’s early years we must speculate. Perhaps we might consider two possibilities for the life that Mary lived.

Firstly we might note ancient tradition which stresses that from her very childhood Mary was dedicated to God and served in the Temple as a girl and young woman. This tradition can be seen in the writings of the Fathers of the Church who claim that Mary was presented to the Temple and served there from the age of three until the age of fourteen (when she was betrothed to Joseph and left such service to marry). Certainly there is evidence in the scriptures of women offering non-liturgical service in or around the Temple,  and we encounter one such person in the story of Joseph and Mary meeting Anna – an elderly widow who spent her days in service at the Temple.  But whether Mary lived such a life in her early years is beyond my knowledge.

Another way to reflect on Mary’s early years is simply to speculate that her life may have been no less than that of other young girls of her day. Although in such times girls were excluded from formally attending school, there is evidence that both mothers and fathers instructed their children in the Law, the scriptures and the customs and religious practices of the community. Mary’s faithfulness and dedication to God seems to provide ample evidence of her having an education that both nourished and informed her faith deeply. Of course for Mary, as for everyone in her society, education also meant learning basic skills – and indeed far more, since the scriptures record that apart from skills like weaving, cooking and sewing, women in fact undertook various tasks in agriculture and worked with textiles, perfumes and practiced as midwives.

But the essence of today is that of faithfulness. Mary’s whole life is given to God and her faithful stance becomes for us not just a key component in the story of our salvation, but a wonderful example to us of how to live our own lives.

Mary teaches us that discipleship knows no bounds, can be active at any age of our lives and that it is founded upon family, upon learning and listening and upon a deep sense of faith in God. Like Mary we are called to be listeners to the Word and to welcome the Word into our own lives so as to live our lives in service of Jesus ‘God with us’.

Fr. Denis Travers, C.P., is the Provincial Superior of Holy Spirit Province, Australia. 

Daily Scripture, May 10, 2013

Scripture: Acts 18:9-18 John 16:20-23 Reflection: I remember the loss of control I felt when I was pregnant. This little life governed every aspect of my existence.  My belly stretched » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 7, 2013

Scripture: Acts 16:22-34 John 16:5-11 Reflection: As children we always had a pet in the house: dogs, cats and for a while even an aquarium filled with exotic fish.  I’ll » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 5, 2013

  Scripture: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23 John 14:23-29       Reflection: Jesus Keeps His Promises We all have friends.  We have people in our lives whom we » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 3, 2013

  The Feast of Ss. Philip and James, Apostles Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 John 14:6-14     Reflection: The Word of Life Each day, as we reflect upon the Word » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 2, 2013

Scripture: Acts 15:7-21 John 15:9-11 Reflection: In today’s reading from Acts, Peter and James argue forcefully for the inclusion of Gentiles without laying on them the demands of Judaism. They » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, May 1, 2013

Memorial for St. Joseph the Worker                                  Scripture:      Genesis 1:26-2:3 Matthew 13:54-58        Reflection: In 1955 Pope Pius XII proclaimed May 1st as the Feast of St. Joseph the » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 30, 2013

Scripture: Acts 14:19-28 John 14:27-31a Reflection: "Poor me!   Why does everything always happen to me?  Why does God allow this?  Why am I going through all this pain?  Ain’t it » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 28, 2013

Scripture: Acts 14:21-27 Revelation 21:1-5a John 13:13-33a, 34-35 Reflection: People who know me know I like old music. There was a song written by Cole Porter almost 80 years ago » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 29, 2013

Scripture: Acts 14:5-18 John 14:21-26 Reflection: In today’s passage from the Acts of the Apostles we see Barnabas and Paul in a ticklish situation.  After seeing a lame man walk, » Continue Reading.

Daily Scripture, April 26, 2013

Scripture: Acts 13:26-33 John 14:1-6 Reflection: "There’s always room for one more" sums up my father’s generous spirit.  While some friends think this refers amusingly to the nine children my » Continue Reading.

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