Today’s celebration of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is a joyful acknowledgement of the power and love of our God. He who makes all things new (Rev.21:5) has chosen to create Mary with the ‘new’ mould of being born without original sin. He who created everything through His Son (Jn. 1:3) has re-created Mary to be the vessel through which the Son redeems all creation.

Scripture says that “where sin abounds, grace abounds even more” (Rom. 5:20). Although everyone is born with original sin, God our Father poured His grace on Mary so that she was conceived and born without sin. This is a pure gift from God to His daughter Mary. She was conceived and born free from sin, so that the ‘spotless’ Lamb of God could come into the world to pour that same grace on us.

Jesus, the Son of God and Son of Mary, now re-creates us by His redeeming blood and calls us to follow Him.

May we have the love and courage to be like Mary to say, “Be it done to me according to Your word.”

READINGS http://usccb.org/bible/readings/120817.cfm