Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dec.8,2006

Scripture: Gen.3:9-15,20. Psalm 98:1-4. Ephesians 1:3-6,11-12. Luke 1:26-38 In one of his poems, William Wordsworth said of Mary, "our tainted nature's solitary boast." The selection from Ephesians is important for helping us to understand the use of a special word which becomes a new name for Mary. The word flows from a verb which means to "be favored and graced by God in a generous way." It is used in the greeting that Gabriel gives to Mary in the Annunciation account which also is her vocational summons to be the person involved in the great mystery of God's love, the Incarnation. Ephesians probes into the mystery of God's loving plan for all of us and these words show us how we too are special in our calling no matter what they may be. "Before the foundation of the world we were chosen to be without blemish...through Jesus Christ." In looking at Mary we learn that our Catholic tradition sees this as being perfectly accomplished in her . This is the grace of her Immaculate Conception, that is , her freedom from the blemish of what is termed "original sin." Though this was already preached and written about in the seventh century, it was not taught magisterially as dogma until it was proclaimed such in 1854 by Pius IX. Indeed, according to Ephesians, God's intention for all of us was to be without blemish of sin, but it was only Mary who used her free will to give a convincing "Yes" to this intentional plan of God's love. Such is the gift of our freedom that we could say no to that plan, but Mary did not say no to God's love for her. Thus the Angel Gabriel gives her a new name after the salutation, "Rejoice, you who have already been graced and favored by God" that is the meaning of the perfect passsive participle with which Mary is given this new appelation (KECHARITOMENE). It was through the saving and redemptive love of Jesus that she enjoyed this magnificent new grace so generously given to her who was "our tainted nature's solitary boast." Her "yes" should have been ours as we have seen from Ephesians, but now it is through her that we can say "yes" to the call of God each day. We too are to bear Christ withiin us and bring him to the crying needs of our world. We too are called to be creative agents of God's loving redemption. Her yes made the mystery of God's love visible in the Incarnation. God became one with us that we too might become daughters and sons of God. It is remarkable that this young woman who was totally human in every dimension of her being showed us how to say "yes" to God's call. She personified the yes in her free and intelligent response. We are led to appreciate her yes during this special day of the Advent season. We can mirror her yes in our lives through openess to God's plan and through love for one another. I personally believe that God's primordial love has been accomplished in Mary and I rejoice and thank her for showing us how to say "yes" and mean it with all our heart and soul. Thank you, Mary, for showing us that you are "our tainted nature's solitary boast." Amen.