Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel came to her and
said, “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” Mary was troubled at these words, wondering
what this greeting could mean. But the angel said, “Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly
on you. You shall conceive and bear a son; and you shall call him Jesus. He will be great, and
shall rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the kingdom of David,
his ancestor; he will rule over the people of Jacob forever; and his reign shall have no end.”
Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel said to her,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
therefore, the holy child to be born of you shall be called Son of God. Even your relative,
Elizabeth, is expecting a son in her old age, although she was unable to have a child;
and she is now in her sixth month. With God nothing is impossible.” Then Mary said, “I am
the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said.” And the angel left her.

Reflect

“The Mother of God.” The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin
Mary is normally celebrated on December 8. We reflect on this beautiful Catholic teaching
about the Blessed Mother. Mama Mary was preserved from all stain of original sin by the
singular grace and privilege of God in view of the merits of Jesus Christ. How can we
explain this teaching in simpler terms? This teaching basically asserts the gratuitousness
of God and the merits of the salvation brought to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. God, in his
generosity and benevolence, looked kindly on Mary. By God’s singular grace and privilege,
Mary was chosen to be the Mother of God. When Mama Mary said her yes (fiat) to God’s
divine plan, she was saved ahead of time by the merits of the salvation won by her Son,
Jesus Christ. She received greater merits because she is the Mother of Jesus Christ. Thus,
the closer we are to Jesus, the greater the merits. Today’s Gospel highlights the fact that
Mary was a simple young maiden in the little town of Nazareth who found favor with God.
She said yes to the plan of God. We are all saved.

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