Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
First Reading: Genesis 3:9-15, 20
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12
Gospel: Luke 1:26-38
Today we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Virgin Mary. Our Mother Mary conceived and born free from the stain of original sin. Born of humble origins for the greatest purpose this earth has ever known, to be the Mother of God. In today's reading we learn about Mary's purpose. In the first reading from Genesis, we get a foreshadowing of things to come. While Eve (the mother of all living things) did not trust in God, and therefore turned from Him and disobeyed by eating of the fruit. Eve said no to God's original plan, but Mary says yes to God and to His plan, truly becoming the "new Eve" and the new mother of all the living. God's plan for salvation came to be by the yes of our Blessed Mother. For by her cooperation and her yes to God, she was given a great purpose and gift in giving birth to and raising our Lord and Savior.
Like Mary, God also has a plan and a purpose for us. As St. Paul says in his letter to the Ephesians; "In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ." May we learn to model our Mother in our desire to do the Lord's will.
Today we celebrate God's amazing gift that we are given through the Mother of Christ. For in Heaven, we have a great advocate helping to bring us closer to her Son. May we all turn to our Blessed Mother with our prayers and intentions, and in return be brought to closer and more fuller union with her Son, Jesus Christ.
Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art though amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.
Glory be to the Father, to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
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