Today's gospel, 8 Sept: "God is with us."

 

8 September: The Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary



Madonna im Gärtchen

(Madonna in the Garden)

Anonymous, early 16th century, Dutch

Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=152365


Collect 

Almighty God, 
who looked upon the lowliness of the blessed Virgin Mary 
and chose her to be the mother of your only Son: 
Grant that we who are redeemed by his blood 
may share with her in the glory of your eternal kingdom; 
through Jesus Christ our Lord.


Matthew 1:1-16,18-23

An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, 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 Aram, and Aram the father of Aminadab, and Aminadab 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 King David.

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 Salathiel, and Salathiel 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 the Messiah.

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.’



Recommended reading: Mary, Bearer of Life

by Christopher J. Cocksworth, Dean of Windsor




Sacred Space

"This must have been a very difficult time for both Mary and Joseph..."

You can read the rest of this hepful reflection and thought for the day here:

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2025-09-08/



Mary's song: Magnificat  (Luke 1: 46-55)


And Mary said,

‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
   and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
   Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
   and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
   from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
   he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
   and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
   and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
   in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
   to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’


Christian Art

You may enjoy this video (recommended), The Secret Christian Code in Van Gogh's Sunflowers :

https://youtu.be/7f8gef1ZBqY?si=s3Ilqum1_-wPTW-_



This week:

Wednesday - Midweek Holy Communion in Westport, 10.30am in St Mary's side chapel 

Wednesday - Online Prayer and Bible Reading, 8pm 


Pastoral care and enquiries:  


Revd Suzanne Cousins  

083 800 3233    

Email  aughaval@tuam.anglican.org

Aughaval Parishes' Website   aughaval.tlk.ie

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