A Reflection for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Find today’s readings here.
Just to clear up some misconceptions (pun intended) about today’s Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Yes, it is usually observed as a holy day on December 8, but that happened to be the Second Sunday of Advent this year. Yes, it concerns the absence of original sin upon the conception of Mary in her mother’s womb, rather than the miraculous conception of Jesus in Mary’s womb. Yes, today’s Gospel reading adds to the confusion.
But I love today’s focus on women. We women are not especially well represented in the Bible or in the history books. Our voices have often been silenced; our presence has often been ignored. Maybe that’s why I love this Gospel, describing young Mary’s encounter with the Angel Gabriel. I love that she is “greatly troubled,” as we women often are, but that she overcomes her fear enough to engage in dialogue with an angel. After she listens to his news, she bravely voices her doubts. Then, most amazingly, she acquiesces to God’s will. She voices her fiat for the ages: “May it be done.”
I wonder how Mary felt after the angel left. Was she nervous? Was she resolute? Was she both? We can’t know. We know she travels to visit Elizabeth, who according to the angel is also pregnant by the grace of God. When she sees Elizabeth, Mary gives us the gift of her Magnificat, the prayer of the lowly servant. Mary has found her voice for all time. Because she is full of grace, because the Lord is with her, because she is the Mother of God, Mary can never be silenced.
On the other hand, we also read today about Eve, the first woman, who faces banishment for talking with a serpent. Eve is blamed for leading her mate down the garden path––the man is innocent!––and “the mother of all the living” sets our human course for disobedience. The story of Eve shows us that when we disregard God’s voice, there will be consequences. When we listen to the voices of our own serpents that whisper sweet temptations in our ears, we distance ourselves from God. We silence God. We silence ourselves as well.
When the Lord is with us, we can find our voice anew. We can find the small ways in our own lives to express God’s love and mercy. When we pray for the grace to say yes, we find the courage to speak up, for truth, for justice, for peace. We voice our fiat. Like Mary speaking up for the hungry, the powerless, the downtrodden, with God we will find ways to be heard.
Get to know Valerie Schultz
What is your favorite Advent/Christmas hymn?
My favorite hymn is "O Holy Night." It gets me every time.
Do you have any favorite Advent/Christmas family traditions?
My favorite Advent tradition is the usual one: the lighting of the Advent wreath every Sunday evening and reading the readings aloud. Even though our kids are grown and gone, my husband and I still light the wreath. I just have to remember to get the purple and pink candles before the first Sunday of Advent.
Share a photo of an Advent or Christmas memory.
This is our Christmas card photo from 1994, which was one of my favorites. We make our cards by hand every year, which is my favorite tradition. They are a labor of love.
