Conceived in the normal human manner and born as any human being, Mary, however, did not come to us with any deprivation of sanctifying grace. No original sin in her. This is what the angel Gabriel meant with the words, "Hail, full of grace." Thus throughout her life she did not experience in innate tendency toward evil, toward sin.
Sinning does not make us human; quite the opposite is true. When we are without sin, we are most fully what God intended us to be. We see this is Jesus, in Mary, Adam and Eve (before the supreme test, and the angels. The closest experience to this is young children before they reach the age of reason. Yet, it was God's desire when he created human beings, Adam and Eve, that they and their progeny should live an existence without any sin. But because of their sin, all of us except Jesus and Mary have come into this world with a natural inclination toward sin. Yet, we cannot forget the awesome response to that first sin in Eden's garden and all subsequent sins: the Father's gift to humanity, his Son, Jesus and his redemptive action.
This feast of the Immaculate Conception, while a Marian feast, is also an opportunity for each of us to focus upon the gift of the redemption in our lives. It is a gift from the Father, not allowing Mary to be burdened of that innate tendency or openness to sin. This feast and the reality it honors are reminders that God wants us to live out the destiny He has envisioned for each of us.
So, this feast day is an occasion to give thanks to God. It is also a day when, in our prayers we might center our attention on our own destiny: what is it that God wants of me? What are the grace-filled expectations we can fulfill along our spiritual journey.
God is speaking to you in a unique way today. Once He spoke to Mary through the angel, Gabriel. What is God saying to you today? Rest with these questions in your prayer today.
Father, fill our hearts with your grace:
at one time, through the message of an angel
You revealed to us the incarnation of your Son;
now, through His suffering and death
leads us to the glory of His resurrection. Amen
