Drawn towards mercy

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Ave Maria

Margaret Rizza

Today is Tuesday the 8th of September, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the 23rd week of Ordinary Time.

The Gaudete Ensemble sings ‘Ave Maria’ by Margaret Rizza. On this feast day, allow your desire to pray to lead you towards the Lord. Ask Him to draw you close, to help you release whatever keeps you from Him, and to open your heart and soul to His presence.

3:52

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 1:18-23

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil 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.’

5:37

satellite dreams

Joseph is caught between two goods: the demands of the law and mercy towards Mary. His first instinct is to protect her from disgrace rather than expose her. Long before he understands what God is doing, Joseph is already inclined towards compassion. Where in your life have you found yourself drawn towards mercy even before you fully understood why?

The angel comes to Joseph in a dream, at the very time when he is least in control, least able to plan or reason his way through. God’s clearest word to him arrives in sleep, in vulnerability, rather than in his own careful deliberation. Has God ever spoken to you most clearly at a time when you were not in control, or unable to see your way ahead?

As the reading is repeated, listen for whichever word or phrase seems to be addressed to you today. Where does it lead you?

8:50

Matthew 1:18-23

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil 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.’

10:36

Joseph’s obedience is quiet and largely unrecorded. We never hear him speak, yet the whole of the Christmas story depends on his willingness to say yes to something he could not fully understand. Is there an invitation in your own life just now that asks a similar, quiet trust? Try to speak to God about it.

12:54

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen