Immaculate Conception

The image of Mary from Luke's Gospel is quite different than the Immaculate Mary we see in classical art.  The Mary of the Gospel is troubled by the Angel's greeting, and wants to clarify what exactly is going on.  Yet her faith is strong and she offers an affirmative response giving her whole self over to God.


An image that we take away from this Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is that Mary ponders the Word of God.  Later in Luke's Gospel Mary praises God for the wonderful acts of healing and forgiveness that are so very much like God.  It is God who lifts up the lowly and feeds the hungry with good things.  Now Mary becomes part of the story of salvation.

Sometimes we can make Jesus a fast food item, catching him when we get a chance, or are really in a jam.  And yet this is what the prophets preached about so often.  A people who would settle for simple fixes or easy solutions, rather than transforming ones life and maintaining with God over the long journey.  Mary has been prepared from her birth to be the Theotokos, or God carrier.  Yet the question is still asked of her as to whether or not she would take on this special role.

Even in our holy lives we are asked again and again to make a commitment to God with our whole persona.  It is a life-time of taking responsibility for the faith which we profess.  With Mary as our model we need to develop the habit of pondering the workings of God, and God's plan of salvation.  While we might not be called to participate in the sacred mysteries we celebrate to the extent in which Mary is, we are none the less called to nurture and nourish our faith so as to build up the Kingdom.

Mary rejoices in the possibilities of God within her.  In our Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist, we are asked to make a living profession of faith on a daily basis.  This is so that the good things begun in us may be brought to completion.