Claretian Communications Foundation, Inc.
Holy Day of Obligation: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Psalter: Proper / (White)
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 98: 1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4: Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
1st Reading: Genesis 3:9-15, 20
Yahweh God called the man saying to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”
God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree I ordered you not to eat?” The man answered, “The woman you put with me gave me fruit from the tree and I ate it.”
God said to the woman, “What have you done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me and I ate.”
Yahweh God said to the serpent, “Since you have done that, be cursed among all the cattle and wild beasts! You will crawl on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. I will make you enemies, you and the woman, your offspring and her offspring. He will crush your head and you will strike his heel.”
The man called his wife by the name of Eve, because she was the mother of all the living.
2nd Reading: Ephesians 1: 3-6, 11-12
Blessed be God the Father of Christ Jesus our LORD, who, in Christ, has blessed us from heaven with every spiritual blessing.
God chose us in Christ before the creation of the world, to be holy, and without sin in his presence. From eternity, he destined us in love, to be his adopted sons and daughters through Christ Jesus, thus fulfilling his free and generous will. This goal suited him: that his loving-kindness, which he granted us in his beloved, might finally receive all glory and praise.
By a decree of him, who disposes all things according to his own plan and decision, we, the Jews, have been chosen and called, and we were awaiting the Messiah for the praise of his glory.
Gospel: Luke 1: 26-38
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God, to a town of Galilee called Nazareth. He was sent to a virgin, who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
The angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” Mary was troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean.
But the angel said, “Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly on you.
You shall conceive and bear a son; and you shall call him Jesus. He will be great, and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his ancestor; he will rule over the people of Jacob forever; and his reign shall have no end.”
Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the holy child to be born of you shall be called Son of God.
Even your relative, Elizabeth, is expecting a son in her old age, although she was unable to have a child; and she is now in her sixth month. With God nothing is impossible.”
Then Mary said, “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said.” And the angel left her.
REFLECTION:
“The Mother of God.”
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is normally celebrated on December 8.
We reflect on this beautiful Catholic teaching about the Blessed Mother. Mama Mary was preserved from all stain of original sin by the singular grace and privilege of God in view of the merits of Jesus Christ.
How can we explain this teaching in simpler terms? This teaching basically asserts the gratuitousness of God and the merits of the salvation brought to us by our Lord Jesus Christ.
God, in his generosity and benevolence, looked kindly on Mary. By God’s singular grace and privilege, Mary was chosen to be the Mother of God. When Mama Mary said her yes (fiat) to God’s divine plan, she was saved ahead of time by the merits of the salvation won by her Son, Jesus Christ.
She received greater merits because she is the Mother of Jesus Christ.
Thus, the closer we are to Jesus, the greater the merits. Today’s Gospel highlights the fact that Mary was a simple young maiden in the little town of Nazareth who found favor with God. She said yes to the plan of God. We are all saved.
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