Advent and the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

Today in Advent, the Catholic Church celebrates the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, one of the several titles bestowed on Mary by the church. Today the Catholic Church celebrates the great privilege given to mother Mary by God to be the mother of his son Jesus Christ. The church celebrates Mary’s yes and her willingness to be part of God’s plan of salvation even though there were many critical questions to which Mary did not know the answer. Mary knew God, and she trusted him wholeheartedly, even without having all the answers.

Here we have a young woman who is not yet married, and is invited to be part of God’s plan of salvation by being the mother of our Lord. All of this took place amidst the background of a culture that would openly condemn to death any woman found to be with child outside of marriage. You may recall the story recorded in chapter 8 of Saint John’s Gospel, of the woman who was caught in adultery. She was made to stand there before everyone while accuses had the stones all heaped up ready to carry out the execution. So this was the custom in those days and Mary was fully aware of it when she said yes to God’s plan of salvation. When the Angel came in and announced to Mary saying to her, “do not be afraid for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” It is important to note that after such a pronouncement, Mary had but one question; “how can this be, since I have no relations with man?” You will note that Mary seem to be the least bit concerned about her protection, and about how she would explain this to a society that was eager to condemn a sinner, or rather someone they perceived to be a sinner.

[simpleazon-image align=”left” asin=”B00655TEY2″ locale=”us” height=”500″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31yIAg2uVnL.jpg” width=”174″]During the season of advent we are taught by the church to practice the discipline of hope, as the word advent itself is derived from the Latin word meaning coming. Not only does Mary teach us in Advent to be true advent people – people of hope – but she also teaches us to be people who trust God unconditionally. After all, how many women of faith do you know who had they been presented with a challenge that Mary had, would have said yes to his plan without first getting some assurance that they would be exempt from public ridicule and condemnation from a society that did not know its own wretchedness? Mary was filled with advent hope, was quite contented with the response given her by the Angel Gabriel to her question. But wait a minute here! From the surface of things, the Angels response seems to have been one that should have generated more questions rather than a submission. To the question of how can this be, the angel said to her, “the Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the son of God.” But the Angel Gabriel did not stop there but continued, “and behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age; she who was supposed to be sterile is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible with God.”

After a response like that, the average believer would have had several more questions before even contemplating going along with this plan; and what was Mary’s response? “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let what you have said be done on to me according to your word.” All I can say is wow! Wow! What faith! What tremendous faith Mary demonstrated in God! By her example she teaches us to be the same, people of great faith, people who despite the odds being stacked up against us, still believe in God. She teaches us by her example to have great hope in God who not only has the power to save, but who is all powerful!

During the season of advent, we are challenged by the gospel readings to prepare a way for the Lord. The readings challenge us to stay awake and to be constantly, constantly on our guard in an ever-changing world that is doing its best to try to obliterate the existence of God – who has no beginning nor no end. Mary by her example, and through her powerful intercession, can and will help us to be truly an advent people.

If your faith experience is not where you think it should be so as to allow you to hope in the Lord, then ask for it. The beautiful thing[simpleazon-image align=”right” asin=”0895550997″ locale=”us” height=”160″ src=”http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51eEFmTtEAL._SL160_.jpg” width=”97″] about our God is that we can ask him for all that we need to do the things he asked us to do and to be the people he wants us to be. We are in the season, or rather approaching the season of Christmas, the time of year when there is a lot of gift giving. One of the most popular questions this time of year is, “so what do you want for Christmas?” God is asking you right now, not what do you want for Christmas but rather, what do you need right now? Wouldn’t that be a wonderful thing if our responses were for an increase in faith, or to make us into such a people of hope, that the light of Christ will be visibly present in us wherever we go. This world would be set ablaze by the love of God made visible in us and through us.

Right where you are, let us ask our loving Father, let us beseech our God to grant us right now, an increase in faith, and to make us into a people of such great hope, that no matter how hopeless situations in our own lives may seem, and no matter how hopeless the world around us may seem, we will trust in God still and allow his glory to shine in us.

This advent, and on the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, we ask our mother Mary to pray for us, to intercede for us, that our hearts be changed, renewed, transformed, delivered from darkness and that indeed we will prepare a way, a way in our hearts, for the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Mother Mary, pray for us; Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Gospel –  Lk 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,
and you shall name him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,
and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,
and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,
and of his Kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel,
“How can this be,
since I have no relations with a man?”
And the angel said to her in reply,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore the child to be born
will be called holy, the Son of God.
And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
has also conceived a son in her old age,
and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;
for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”
Then the angel departed from her.