Immaculate Conception of the BVM; 12-8-18

Gn 3:9-15   Ps 98   Eph 1:3-6 Lk 1:26-38

Deacon Jim McFadden; St. John the Baptist C.C.

 

            In the beginning of the school year, we do a brief Introduction to Catholicism since many of our incoming Freshmen do not come from feeder Catholic schools.   When asked about major liturgical celebrations, such as the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, most draw a blank. With prodding, a few students, will correctly assert that it refers to the fact that Mary was conceived without Original Sin and so was prepared to be the Mother of the Son of God

Overtime, my students come to the appreciation that this Solemnity reminds us of two fundamental truths of our Catholic faith: Original Sin first of all. The universal experience of evil is so consistent throughout history and relentlessly imposes itself upon us. Just look at the news everyday: we are, indeed, involved in spiritual warfare with an Adversary who does not will our good.   But, we know our enemy has been vanquished by Jesus through his Incarnation, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension. And, his victory shines so sublimely in Mary most holy.

Who is this young woman who would become the Mother of God? In terms of appearance, she probably looked like today’s Middle Eastern women: she’d have an olive complexion and brown, auburn hair. Growing up in occupied territory with Roman soldiers about, she practiced some kind of veiling or modesty in dress.

At the time of her encounter with the Archangel Gabriel, the messenger of God, Mary was probably about 13-14 years old. If Mary was with us physically at the time of the Annunciation, she’d be sitting in one of my Freshmen classes. Following the custom of the time, Mary was engaged young, because many women died at childbirth. In sum, Mary was a down-to-earth, poor young woman. She lived life the same way we do and dealt with the same relational issues which we have to deal.             At the same time, through the Immaculate Conception Mary was being prepared to be the Mother of God.   She is Jesus’ Mother and she’s ours as well since the Church is the mystical Body of Christ. Just as she gave birth to the Son of God, she will help us give birth to our Lord in our lives.

Mary is able to do this because she was conceived without Original Sin. In this respect, Mary is unique among human beings: there is SOMETHING about Mary! But can we really relate to someone who is sinless? We can because our Blessed Mother is the human being we are all meant to become: free of sin, totally united to God and in perfect fellowship with our sisters and brothers. So, Mary guides us to her Son, who is the source of Life and Goodness.

How does Mary do that? The clue lies in Gabriel’s greeting: “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” What is grace. It’s not a thing which is given to her; rather, grace is what happens between Mary and God: it’s a shared life. She has opened herself entirely to God’s presence by going into the Quiet, pondering the Sacred Word, and by yearning to do the will of God. Mary’s whole life was orientated towards God; all that she yearned for was to follow God. Mary had placed herself boldly and totally in God’s hands.

And, we are called to do the same! We are made in the image of God just like Mary. We are God’s beloved daughters and sons. That’s reality! We come from God and are meant to return to God, which we do in and through Christ Jesus, who is Immanuel—God among us. That’s reality! Mary shows us how to live a life wholly centered in God. She is “full of grace”; she is fully human. She is free. She is the first person to be liberated from the primitive fall of our first parents, but not the last.

Sisters and brothers, our Blessed Mother is the Christian we are all meant to become; she is the first disciple because God comes into her life and announces the divine presence within her, and she willingly acknowledges that presence. In the Magnificat, a beautiful canticle the Church prays at every Evening Prayer, Mary says, “My soul magnifies the Lord!” That’s redemption which I believe, means that God, acting as God, empties Himself into our hearts; God gives to us nothing less than Himself. And, this life is right here and now. We simply have to accept him into our lives by saying with Mary: “YES!”

All we are asked to do is to be willing to do the Father’s will, to be present to the moment which is the dwelling place of God, and to be open to the movement of the Holy Spirit. When Mary manifests this presence and openness, God enters her, praises her, believes in her, and invites her into intimacy and the fullness of life. GOD WILL BE BORN IN HER! And, God wants to do the same within us—personally and as a community. AMEN!