We celebrate today, how from the very first moment of her existence, from the moment she was the tiniest of babies in the womb of her mother, God gave Mary a special gift: God protected Mary from the corrupting influences of evil—what we call the stain of sin. That’s what the word immaculate means—without sin. God made Mary immaculate—without stain.
Why did God do this? Out of all the human beings in history, why did God give this special grace to Mary?
He did it to prepare her for the special role she would have in our salvation. God preserved Mary from the stain of sin to prepare her to be his earthly mother—when he would take on our human flesh in order to save us from our sins.
For remember, in God there is no evil. In God there is no selfishness, no spite, no hateful intentions, no pride, lust nor greed. There is only goodness and love. God is entirely holy.
And God wants us to be holy as well. This is why he took our flesh—to save us from the sin that corrupts and debilitates us and causes us to be separated from Him and hinders his life of goodness and love in us. Sin weakens our wills, darkens our intellect, and diminishes the unity of body and soul. Sin is never good for us. Sin sets our minds and our hearts and our bodies and our willpower at odds with God who is the highest good.
And so God, saving Mary from the stain of sin, is like a beautiful glimpse of what He desires to do in the life of every person. Through Jesus, God wants to save us from the terrible effects of sin—sin that causes us to fall so short of what God designed us to be—beacons of his goodness, love, and glory.
So God made Mary immaculate from the moment of her conception to prepare her to be the mother of the savior.
This is a wonderful feast to celebrate during Advent, which itself is a season of preparation. Mary’s Immaculate Conception reminds us that God is at work in our lives to prepare us to more deeply receive Jesus, to celebrate his birth, for a life of grace, and to prepare us from his second coming
The question is, will we make use of the graces God gives us or not? That’s up to us. Will we make good use of this sacred time? Or will we squander it on selfish pursuits?
Pope John Paul II, nearly 30 years ago now, spoke about how Mary’s immaculate conception helps us during Advent to prepare for Christmas. He said, “This important Marian feast occurs during Advent, a season of watchful and prayerful preparation for Christmas. She, who knew better than anyone how to wait attentively for the Lord, guides us and shows us how to make more vital and active our journey to the Holy Night of Bethlehem. With her, we spend these weeks in prayer and, guided by her bright star, hasten to make the spiritual journey that will lead us to celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation with greater intensity.”
To prepare well for Christmas by imitating the Blessed Virgin Mary, we can focus on three key aspects of her life: her purity, her faith, and her availability to God's will.
Firstly, Mary’s Immaculate Conception reminds us of the importance of purity—not just physical purity, but purity of heart. This Advent, we can strive for greater purity by seeking God’s forgiveness through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Removing the stains of sin from our own souls allows us to be more open to God’s grace. Like Mary, we are called to be temples of the Holy Spirit, radiating God's love and goodness to those around us. So, set aside time for a thorough examination of conscience and make a good confession before Christmas.
Secondly, Mary’s life was marked by her unwavering faith in God’s promises. She trusted that God’s plan for her was good, even when it seemed beyond her understanding. We, too, are invited to deepen our trust in God’s providence, especially in the midst of uncertainty. During Advent, as we await the coming of the Lord, let us renew our confidence that God is working in our lives, even in hidden ways. Spend time each day in Scripture, particularly the Gospels, meditating on God’s promises and allowing His Word to strengthen your faith.
Thirdly, Mary’s fiat—her “yes” to God—which we heard in today’s Gospel, is the model of Christian discipleship. She was completely open to God’s will, setting aside her own plans to serve His purpose. During Advent, we can imitate Mary’s availability by listening more attentively to God in prayer and being willing to say “yes” to the opportunities He places before us to love and serve others. Begin each day with a prayer of surrender, asking God to show you how you can serve Him and others that day. Look for concrete ways to be generous, especially toward those in need.
In this season of preparation, let us ask Mary, the Immaculate Conception, to guide us. Through her intercession, may we open our hearts to God’s grace, grow in holiness, and be ready to welcome Jesus with joy at Christmas and at His second coming. By imitating her purity, faith, and availability, we can make our lives a dwelling place for Christ, just as Mary did. Amen.
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