Born Poor and Perfect

Appreciating the gift of life and celebrating birthdays

09/08/2021

Mt 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.”

I have a little confession to make: I am the world’s worst at remembering birthdays. Do you forget birthdays too? But there is one birthday that I never forget, namely, my mom’s birthday, which is on June 2. That is a date I look forward to and celebrate, without fail, every year. Well, today, September 8, is like that date for Jesus. Why? Because today is the day that Jesus’ mother, Mary, was born.

I do not know if Jesus celebrated birthdays like we do here in 21st century America, but I suspect he never forgot his mom’s birthday, and celebrated it in his own special way as her Son. After all, he was the only Son in all human history who could make his own mother, so we can be sure he created her “poor and perfect, with eyes like the sea after a storm,” as Princess Buttercup described her love, Wesley. What better birthday present is there than to make your mom immaculate from her conception?

Let me say a couple of things about the consequences of celebrating our spiritual mother’s birthday. The first is a comment about the calendar. Most of our birthdays are rather random and unpredictable. We are supposed to stay in the womb for nine months, but the baby comes when the baby wants to come. That is not so with Mother Mary's birthday. We celebrate September 8 as her birthday because we celebrated December 8 as the date she was conceived in her mother’s womb, that is, the Immaculate Conception. She was born "poor and perfect" because she was conceived nine months earlier also "poor and perfect."

The second comment concerns everyone’s right to celebrate a birthday, even those who come from unplanned pregnancies. The gospel of Luke relates the unplanned pregnancy of Jesus and how his parents, Mary and Joseph, said “Yes!” to the gift of life. Jesus had made his Mother Mary before she was born, and his Mother had made Jesus – at least his human nature – before he was born. And they both cherished and celebrated each other’s birthdays. In other words, long before a son learns to love and celebrate his mom’s birthday, his mother has been loving him and celebrating his birthday. Indeed, mom’s love and look forward to their baby’s birthday nine months before they are born.

I also want to give a shout out to the state of Texas and their new legislation protecting the life of unborn children. It is unique law that allows ordinary citizens (like me and you) to sue abortion providers if they attempt an abortion after six months. Talk about “Don’t mess with Texas”! Today, let us ask Mary and Joseph to pray for mothers and fathers who face an unplanned pregnancy – although the pregnancy was surely planned by God – to choose life and celebrate their baby’s birthday. Someday, that baby will happily remember to celebrate his or her mom’s birthday. That baby may make his parents “poor” but he will also help make them “perfect.”

Here is a last little liturgical leftover from today’s feast of the Nativity of Mary. Do you know the three people whose birthdays we celebrate each year at Mass? Obviously, Jesus’ birthday is December 25, and Mary’s birthday is September 8. Who is the third? We also celebrate John the Baptist’s birthday on June 24. Why? Well, all three were sanctified and purified of sin from the womb. And that means that all three – Mary, Jesus and John – were born poor and perfect.

My friends, do you have trouble remembering birthdays like me? Well, I hope you will always remember your mother’s birthday: both your natural mother’s and your spiritual mother’s. Like all good mothers, Mother Mary is looking forward to our real birthday in heaven. All those who make it there are all born “poor and perfect with eyes like the sea after a storm.”

Praised be Jesus Christ!