Homily for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 8 December 2023 by Fr. Kevin Walsh

Gn 3:9-15, 20, Ps 98,Eph 1:3-6, 11-12, Lk 1:26-38

Jesus will come to fulfill God’s promise to save his people. Mary believes this without reservation. The seemingly startling dialogue between Mary and God’s messenger in this gospel situates us in the coming to be of God’s saving work in Christ. The generous trust and longing for the coming about of God’s plan in Mary, transforms into the way she acts and speaks as she receive Gabriel’s message. Her ‘yes’ sets in motion, as a constant present activity, what we really celebrate every Christmas – Jesus is being born now, for us, in a continuation of the tableaux we picture in our minds each December 25th.

Our gospel is an incredibly beautiful passage _— for far more reasons than the language and what it describes. Cistercian authors found in Mary an ideal for contemplative living, they found her consistently turning to God in silent prayer, which opened Mary and can open us, to the encounter God desires to have with those who will bring Jesus to others. Say yes, this morning, not in a rote or halfhearted repetitive murmur, but full throated and marveling that God chooses you to bring the savior into the world! We are being reminded that Mary’s cooperation with God has the potential to bring us to see something for ourselves in God’s plan, if remaining attentive to God is a constant in us. But that takes a very deliberate act of the will and a choice to use our freedom in a way many find far too threatening or too demanding of one’s energy.  For this reason with Mary, we hear God’s messenger say fear not! And along with that we hear, be careful or take care in living the response you choose to make in faith to God who is always extending an invitation to us.

This gospel is paired with chapter three of Genesis, disobeying God not only happens but has consequences. Ancient theologians held that the incarnation occurs because God desires to repair what sin brings about in his creation. That understanding shifted, with some Cistercian influence, to become what we believe today, God loves us so much, he desires to enter into experience and share himself with us. All this bringing us to focus on Mary today as the one who as the mother of Jesus, was preserved free from the effects of the sin of Adam (usually referred to as “original sin”) from the first instant of her conception.

For us who believe and love God — perhaps we can reflect on the words — the Lord is with you!  And as we honor Mary and take in the full strength of her faith, may we grasp the encouragement and the challenge we are being given today in receiving these beautiful passages from scripture.