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| Virgin Mary’s name is 'Full of Grace'. |
Reflection on Today’s Readings, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, December 8th, 2023
Texts: Genesis 3:9-15.20; Psalm 98: 1-4; Ephesians 1:3-6.11-12; Matthew 1:26-38
We celebrate, today, the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. The conception, here, is not Mary’s conception of her Son but of her by her mother, Anne. The doctrine of Immaculate Conception states that Virgin Mary was preserved from original sin from the moment of conception. It is a singular privilege she received from God in view of her being the mother of God the Son. Pope Pius IX, who defined and promulgated the dogma of Immaculate Conception, also adds that it is by the virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of human race.
The preservation of Virgin Mary from sin by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ opens another horizon. It shows the effect of the merits of Christ’s death beforehand. God first granted to Virgin Mary the grace of the death of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of human race. Virgin Mary participated in the merits of Christ’s death in a unique way.
Virgin Mary fulfilled the immaculate woman
Today’s first reading shows that God promised Immaculate Conception of Virgin Mary from the beginning. It is clear in the words: “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” To put enmity between the devil and the woman is to make the woman have nothing to do with sin. It is Virgin Mary’s seed, Jesus Christ, who crushed the head of the devil and bruised through His passion. Hence, Virgin Mary fulfilled the immaculate woman.
The greeting of angel Gabriel also reveals the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. He greeted her thus: “Hail, full of grace”. Angel Gabriel called the name of Virgin Mary, “full of grace”. Virgin Mary’s name is “Full of Grace”, which means being in the state of grace is her person. It is natural to her to be in the state of grace. One whose name is “Full of Grace” cannot but be immaculate from conception. Hence, angel Gabriel adds, “The Lord is with you!"
Immaculate conception calls us to holiness
St. Paul reminds us, in today’s second reading, that it is also our destiny to be Immaculate. We are to be immaculate just as Virgin Mary is by the virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ. St. Paul puts it thus: He (God the Father) chose us in him (Jesus Christ) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him (God the Father).” This means there is revelation of our destiny in Immaculate Conception: Freedom from sin, preservation from sin by the virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ. Hence, immaculate conception calls us to holiness.
Prayer
O God, who by the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin prepared a worthy dwelling for your Son, grant, we pray, that, as you preserved her from every stain by virtue of the Death of your Son, which you foresaw, so, through her intercession, we, too, may be cleansed and admitted to your presence. Amen (Collect)
Fr. Andrew Olowomuke
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