Scripture: Gen. 3:9-15,20, Ps. 97:1-4; Eph. 1:3-6, 11-12; Lk. 1:26-38
The church teaches us with the feast of Immaculate Conception that from the first moment of her conception, Mary was preserved immune from original sin by the singular grace of God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race (CCC 491). In other words, we are taught that Blessed Virgin Mary was created by God immaculate in nature. She was free from sin all throughout her life. We are celebrating this belief today.
The first reading from the book of Genesis gives us the account of our first parents. Our parents were created by God. They were created with an immaculate heart. They enjoyed the company of God in the garden of Eden. They committed sin. Eve in a special way was first tricked by the devil. She had the privilege but lost it. They were thrown out of paradise because they disobeyed God’s command.
The Gospel text of today’s liturgy tells us about the second Eve. It was Mary of Nazareth. God created Mary just like Eve. She too was immaculate. The angel Gabriel was sent by God to Mary. He greeted her, ‘Rejoice, so highly favoured! The Lord is with you.’ The original translation of these words is used in our prayers, ‘Hail Mary! Full of grace. The Lord is with you.’ These words show us that Mary was immaculate, without any sin. She was addressed fully of grace which means to say that she was without sin.
As we compare Eve and Mary, we notice the sharp contrast between the two. Eve refuses to be responsible and she committed sin. She did not hold herself responsible. She blamed the snake for the fall. She brought death in the world. She made humanity the slave of sin. Whereas, Mary shared goodness with the other i.e. Jesus. She accepted the Word of God to be the Mother of God. She brought Jesus into the world. She brought salvation to mankind.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI once said the feast of Immaculate Conception reveals to us what is inside people. There is perfect transparency of soul and body in Mary. She was opened to God’s action and to look at others with mercy, love and tenderness. We are created by the same God. We are immaculate like Mary but we need to imitate the Blessed Mother in our lives.
As a matter of fact, Mary continues to share with us her goodness. She has never stopped her kindness. Therefore, she is called the most powerful woman in the world. She has a greater influence on humanity than any other woman in the world. She has appeared to humanity time and again. Her apparitions reveal to us that she continues to share with us the goodness of God. Her call to humanity is to pray with repentant hearts and turn away from the evil.
Her places of apparitions have become world pilgrim centres. One of them is Lourdes, France, where Our Lady appeared to Bernadette in 1858 for eighteen times. She revealed that she was the Immaculate Conception. The message of Lourdes is to pray for the sinners that humanity may become immaculate. Our Lady appeared to Bernadette who shared goodness with humanity. She is a saint in the Catholic church.
Our Lady appeared once again in 1947 to Sr. Pierina in Italy for eleven times. She spoke to Sr. Pierina that the Lord is greatly offended by the sins of impurity. And He is planning deluge to destroy. She pleaded for mercy. She revealed that she was the Immaculate Conception but she wanted to be known as Rosa Mystica. Her apparition was meant to pray for sinners. He asked Sr. Pierina to keep the hour of grace between 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on 8th December in the church or at home. During this time, she was asked to read Ps. 51 for three times. The remainder of the hour, she was asked to pray the rosary, read the passion of Christ, etc. The practice was later spread to the world by Pope Pius XII.
Our Lady brought goodness in the form of Jesus to the world 2000 yrs ago. She continues to share Jesus, the goodness by appearing with humanity. She reminds us that we too are born immaculate. It is our responsibility to follow the plan of God in our lives. God’s plan is to share goodness in this world. If we need to meet the Lord, then we need to be without spot or stain (2 Pet. 3:13-14). Eve failed when she disobeyed God’s command. Mary obeyed God’s command. What do you want to be? Eve or Mary
