Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection September 08, 2025
Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
08th September 2025 (Monday)
Psalter: Proper
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Micah 5:2-5a
Thus says the Lord; You, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace.
OR
Romans 8:28-30
Brethren: We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Psalm 13:6, 7a (R. Isaiah 61:10a)
R/. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Blessed are you, holy Virgin Mary, deserving of all praise; from you rose the sun of justice, Christ our God.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel: Matthew 1:1-16, 18-23
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham. Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king. And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon. And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ. Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to send her away quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
Daily Gospel Reflection
Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Main Point: Birthday is a reminder that birth is a gift of God gratuitously and generously donated by God. So our life must always carry this divine touch
1. 08 September is a great holy and happy day for all the Catholics as they celebrate their mother Mary’s birthday. Which son, which daughter does not rejoice over her mother’s birthday? Today, in the first place, let us greet her with a happy birthday with all the affection in our hearts. Let us kiss her, embrace her and tell her that we simply love her so much. Let us thank God for giving birth to her because if she was not born, we will not be born as her children.
2. In the Telugu language, there is an old birthday song that says, “birthday is a feast for all but how many really know why there are born?” The beauty, the meaning, and the value of birth is when one lives the gifted life meaningfully and purposefully.
3. In this sense, Mary certainly lived her gift of life as a gift to God and to others. We can mark two phases in her life: one, before the Annunciation and the other, after the Annunciation. This distinction is made because as we know, Annunciation marks a decisive and definitive moment in her life when the purpose and mission, and destiny of her life were disclosed to her. The Angel announces that she would be the mother of the incarnate savior and thus becomes a pivotal collaborator in God’s plan of salvation. From then on, her life was lived in an intense consciousness of her vocation.
4. However, even before this disclosure of the purpose of her life, even before the annunciation, still her life was no less purposeful. Her life has always been a continuous act of faith and faithfulness. This comprises a profound spirit of humility, docility, and surrender. Concretely, these manifest themselves in a life of devotion and benevolence.
5. Now, we can further reflect on her birth in the light of 1 John 2. 29 and 3.9, 10. The Word speaks of those born of God. This very much fits our Sweetest, Mother Mary. She was born not only of a human womb but much more she was born of God. She is born of God because she commits no sin, she does what is right and she loves others. These are three distinguishing marks of those born of God.
6. After all this simple reflection, what is the birthday message for us? Like Mary, live a life of faith and faithfulness, in humility, docility, and surrender through the daily practice of devotion and benevolence. Live like her, like those who are born of God. This means that we resist committing sin. We do what is right. Love others as sisters and brothers.
My Practice: A fitting birthday gift to the Mother is our own filial affection and devotion to her, which eventually leads to emulation of her example
