“In the beginning” begins the beginning of our beginnings.  Today we honor the birthday of Jesus’ mom, Mary.  (So she was the beginning of our beginnings!)  Well, yes and no.

Why September 8, I’m not sure.  I’m sure the Catholic Church has some planetary reason why Mary was born today, I just hope that it wasn’t based on Pluto.

In such a male dominated church as the Catholic Church is, it only seems right that a woman creep her way into its hallowed, linear structures. (Can women creep?)  I think that we have more Mary honored days in the Catholic Church than for Jesus. That’s hardly “creeping.”  I mentioned that to a priest friend who wisely told me, “But every Mass day is a Jesus day.”

I like the emphasis to this day to be on beginnings.  How better to do it except through the mother.  Through, not because of.  Through, sometimes in spite of.  Through, but sometimes to her credit.  A friend of mine is pregnant with breast cancer and needs to forgo extensive cancer treatment until her baby is born.  Is that love?  Is that something you know not now but somehow find the trust to endure?

The beginning of something is always the end of something else.  One television program that you immensely love is cancelled and a new show begins that you now immensely love.  The life of Jesus gives us the realization of our hopes and promises.  His life ended the drudgery of always drudging up our failings and weaknesses.  The birth of Mary ended the waiting and anticipation of salvation history.

Jesus needed a beginning to begin his beginning.  Through the Holy Spirit, Mary gave it to him.  (Happy birthday Mary and keep jabbing us Catholic to not be afraid of the other gender.)