8.12.2003 The Immaculate Conception of Mary
First Reading: Genesis 3, 9-15.20
Psalm 97
Second Reading: Ephesians 1, 3-6.11-12
Gospel Reading: Luke 1,26-38
God desires to meet with man. And man did as he thought was right, he acted according to his own reasoning rather than to follow indications given by his God. He realised very quickly however, that there was no longer harmony or serenity, and that he no longer desired the vicinity of the woman, who had deceived him, or God, whose reprimand he feared. And so God makes the first move and asks him, "where are you?".
God knows that man is vulnerable, that he is alone and incapable of redefining his life. Death has reared it's head within him with the first fears, fear of everything, even of the person closest to him, even of himself. Now he looks only for darkness, to be invisible to all. He no longer has life for all is threatened, broken, finished. He cannot live with only his own initiative, his own strength and ability.
But God still loves him and comes to him and talks and starts again. Above all He wants man to realise the situation he is in and his limits, then He makes a promise: He Himself intervenes to save the situation, to renew life, which He will do with man's help, with the help of the descendents of the woman. God's words give hope to those men who wait and want to become close collaborators of God, offering a child of their own for the fulfilment of that promise, and who are desirous to hasten the hour of salvation with faithful, constant prayer.
The whole population of Abraham, who knows the promise from the Scriptures and all the individuals of his people, takes part in this prayer. Mary, the girl from Nazareth who "does not know man" takes part. Today we observe this "woman" who is not like other women. What distinguishes her? All women, like all men think of themselves, have their vanities, their ambitions, their riches, their own ideas and decisions and dreams. All women are heirs to the first man and carry within themselves some residue and consequence of that first disobedience, that emptiness and solitude that Adam suffered after having listened to Eve rather than to the Word of his God.
Mary is greeted by the angel with majestic words, which up till then had only been spoken by the prophets to the entire people of God to exhort them to hope and joy. She was to be of great joy for God was with her! She is not invited to repent and convert as with men who are sinners. She is acclaimed; "full of grace"! She is filled with the love of God. In her and on her shines the beauty and the greatness of divine light; on her rests the fullness of saintliness! Mary receives a word which is the fulfilment of the promise to all men! To receive it, she was prepared by God. In her heart and on her face appeared none of the consequences of the initial disobedience and suspicion, which had cancelled from man's face the resemblance to God. Mary's face is pure, transparent and luminous. We call her "immaculate" to underline the absence in her of the shadow of sin, but we also know that not only was she without sin, but she was "full of grace", full of the splendid freedom of love which makes of her, a beloved being, a being truly capable of loving!
What the apostle states in the second reading, we can already contemplate accomplished in the life of Mary. She is saintly and immaculate, she is praise to the glory of God, and we can, therefore, experience her, a masterpiece of the love of the Father, and be close to her. Walking beside her we will receive the positive influence of her purity and saintliness, of her love for the Father, of the power of the Holy Spirit who made of her the purest of habitations for the Son of God.
Spending our days in her sight, and keeping our eyes on her, our faces will reflect the splendour of the image and resemblance to God, and we will once more have the strength to resist the one who tries to drag us into disobedience, and from disobedience into ruin, and we will be able to reply to God's question; "where are you?", saying; "I am with Mary embracing her Son". And together with her, the Church will continue with joy her role of Mother who generates new children for God and restores to all the splendour of saintliness through pardon of which she was made minister!
Rejoice, Mary, full of grace: the Lord is with thee! Great things are sung of thee, O Mary!