December 8, 2009
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
By Beth DeCristofaro
After the man, Adam, had eaten of the tree, the LORD God called to the man and asked him, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden; but I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.” Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? You have eaten, then, from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat!” The man replied, “The woman whom you put here with me she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.” The LORD God then asked the woman, “Why did you do such a thing?” The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it, so I ate it.” … The man called his wife Eve, because she became the mother of all the living. (Genesis 3:9-12, 20)
Brothers and sisters: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ…as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:1, 3-5)
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. … Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1: 30, 38)
Piety
Hail, Mother Mary. Fill me with your love and fortify me so that each day I can say as you did “Gracious God, be it done to me according to your will.”
Study
We know, perhaps through personal experience and certainly through the media, that not all mothers are very good ones. In Genesis, we meet Eve, the mother of all the living. She was possibly a good mother although she comes up rather short in her gullibility, when she misleads Adam, and in not taking responsibility for her actions before her Creator, then facing murder within her own family. Yet we still know her as “mother of all the living.” God’s justice of Adam and Eve did not destroy her.
In fact, in spite of this inauspicious beginning, God continues to cherish humans. God’s choice of Mary allowed God to become man, closing a gap between divinity and humanity. How awesome can that gift be? Paul tries to capture it in the beautiful words of Ephesians: (God) chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ.
I have never met a celestial angel but I have been visited by those whose needs give flesh to God’s call to me. Each day I am offered opportunities to remember that I am already chosen – as are they. An extremely dysfunctional and unpleasant family member needs some hand-holding and a place to eat Thanksgiving dinner. What do I say? An immigrant who most likely does not have a green card needs a doctor. What votes do I cast? A co-worker has made another bad life choice. How do I love and not judge? Bombs continue to fall on innocent families. Do I speak out? My lifestyle is pushing away those who love me. Whose Will do I follow?
Action
What is God asking of you? Can you hear even through fear, confusion or lack of complete clarity even as Mary did? Can you say yes and trust in God’s will?
