Solemnity of the
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(Genesis 3:9-15.20; Ephesians 1:3-6.11-12; Luke 1:26-38)
A recent article on sexting recently appeared in a
leading national magazine. Sexting is
the sending of nude pictures of oneself via cellular telephones. The article explained the prominence of the practice
among American high schoolers. Curiously,
it showed no particular worry that it would lead to promiscuity, addiction,
frustration, and divorce. Rather the
article mostly campaigned that sexting be decriminalized so that juveniles not
be stigmatized the rest of their lives. However,
the article may provide some benefit to Catholic readers by giving them more
reason to celebrate the Immaculate Conception.
Today’s feast highlights Jesus’ coming to free humanity
of sin. The first reading shows how sin began
and continues to happen. The second
speaks of God’s plan to liberate humans from sin’s curse, and the gospel begins
the drama of Jesus’ victory over sin. Jesus
eventually saves humans from their folly by his death on the cross which wins the
grace to live temperate lives. By virtue
of her crucial role in the story, Mary herself was conceived without any
proclivity to sin.
We should see Mary as more than the instrumental cause of
bringing Jesus to birth. She dared to do
God’s will at considerable cost to herself.
Modelling what it means to act on the word of God, she raised Jesus religiously
along with St. Joseph. Finally, she
shared the pain of Jesus’ death by experiencing what every parent hopes to
avoid – seeing their children die before them.
