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Immaculate Conception

How often have we heard the LORD God ask us, “Where are you?”  How often have we hidden from God to avoid answering?  Naked or not, we knew our answers would reveal our fear and not love of God – fear that we just cannot live up to God’s expectations.  Doing what is right and just might be too hard and inconvenient so we’re turned blind eyes to that which is wrong and even evil.

One who did not hide and who answered, “Here I am” was Mary.  Our Gospel tells the story:  …the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end." 

But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?" And the angel said to her in reply, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.  And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God." Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."  Then the angel departed from her.

As we approach Christmas and we see the many lights and wreaths decorating houses, let’s think about a few answers we can give to our questioning God.  The first is: “I am here God and ready to do your bidding.”  The second is “I am not afraid LORD for I know you are with me, and especially so when we celebrate the birth of your Son.” The third is: “Nothing is impossible for me because you are with me and nothing is impossible for God.”  And finally, “I am your servant and let everything be done to me according your word.”

Such is the nature of our belief and commitment on this Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Deacon David Pierce

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