Mary’s Presence is a Gift to the World, an Inspiration in Doing God’s Mission

The birth of Mary is a birth of a new world, a new earth and a new heaven, because through her, God has become flesh, making our humanity holy, our earth sacred.

She is often misrepresented as passive, submissive, docile, and object of meekness. But we remember Mary, the woman of courage and compassion, who unrelentingly accompanied her son until his passion and death, and even in trying terrifying times of Jesus’ disciples. This strength of Mary’s presence is revealed to us in the New Testament, true to her triumphant song the “Magnificat”.

Mary shows us the way in her “Yes” to God’s will no matter the consequences. Her life of being a “Mother” to the church requires a woman who is faithful, enthusiastic, courageous, compassionate, radical, and very much engaged in her people’s life spirituality, especially the “Anawim” of her time.

Mary’s “Yes” to God’s will was a walk to the unknown path that God has paved. It was not an easy road to travel, but she endured in obedience with deep faith and endless HOPE. Like that of Mary, our birth as Missionaries of the Assumption has a mission to fulfill: to make the invisible God visible in our lives, with the realization as Church of the poor and sent to be missionaries of the poor, deprived, and marginalized in today’s World. As St. Augustine pronounced, “Mary’s birth connects us with Jesus’ saving work”.

As an Apostolic Society, the Missionaries of the Assumption are thus called and challenged to continue Mary’s presence in our world today through their apostolate in giving life to those in need, especially the poor or the Anawim, the least, lost and last in our time; formation of children and youth through these Education Apostolate – Transformative Education with the IP’s; and Accompanying and Journeying with those who are in need.

Our times have witnessed the desecration of the sanctity of persons and the destruction of our common home, ever challenging us missionaries who are called today to make radical shift in our lifestyle, in our direction in missionary works, and in prioritizing our preferences for the poor in our Ministries and acts of mercies.

The birth of Mary brings joy to humanity, whose womb became the bearer of life, the Word made FLESH in Jesus. The birth of Mary reminds us that life is precious and that it must be defended at all cost every time life is threatened. The birth of Mary challenges us to offer our life in service to others, by becoming selfless for the sake of those who need us. The birth of Mary points us to a life of holiness and purity of heart that we may be instruments of God’s presence to others.

As baptized Christians, as children of God, and as missionaries, the birth of Mary continues to inspire and move us to become bearers of life, proclaimers of joy, persons of service and holiness in everything that we do in our mission frontiers.

We joyously and meaningfully celebrate the birth of Mary, our dear Mother, through whom was ushered to us the dawn of salvation, in her conception of the child Jesus. Through the life of Jesus and Mary, we are brought back home to our Divinity as daughters and sons of God, loved and very precious to God, worth the great price, the death of God’s beloved son. (The Sisters of the Missionaries of the Assumption)