Readings: Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Psalm 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 (1a); Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38
Today, we celebrate the Immaculate Conception. Even though the gospel reading is about Jesus’ conception, we are really celebrating Mary’s conception.
The Church’s understanding of Mary took many centuries to develop. It was the 7th century when, the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary to St. Anne, was first celebrated. It was the 11th century, when Pope Clement XI, declared it a Solemnity. And in the United States, it is a Holy Day of Obligation because the Immaculately Conceived Mary is our Patroness.
What makes Mary’s conception immaculate is, she was conceived without original sin. The stain of original sin started when Adam & Eve disobeyed God, and ate the fruit of the forbidden tree.
The reading from Genesis starts right after that. But the main passage for today is when God tells the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers.” This is the first mention of Mary in the bible. This is why you hear Mary is sometimes referred to as the “new Eve”.
We may have a tendency to think Mary’s response to Gabriel was easy for her; after all, she wasn’t born with original sin. But, just as Jesus was tempted by the devil, it is easy to imagine, the serpent was present with Mary and Gabriel. Mary knew the Jewish law; she knew the consequences of being pregnant without a husband. When Mary asks, “how can this be?”, was she being tempted by the serpent?
God loves each of us. As we hear in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, God blesses us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, he chose us to be holy and without blemish before him. But, because we were born with original sin, we will fall to temptations, just like Adam & Eve fell, we will sin. But God desires us to be unblemished; all we have to do is ask. And so through Jesus, we have the sacrament of reconciliation. By receiving this sacrament, it removes our blemishes. It gives us the graces to overcome temptations. It prepares us to meet Jesus, as we celebrate his birth, as we prepare for his second coming, as he asks us to follow him.
So my challenge to you, is to receive the sacrament of reconciliation this advent season. By receiving this sacrament, and the many graces that come with it, it will prepare you to respond to God as Mary responded, “May it be done to me according to your word.”
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