Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Tis a few days late, this but no less heartfelt. That's me away.

On this feast of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the prelude to the Mass in Magnificat states:

God chose Mary the Immaculate Conception to be "our pattern of holiness" in much the same way that DNA plays an integral role in our genetic code: from the inside, not from the outside. At Mary's conception, a new way of being human happens, and we are "chosen, destined" to share it. Adam and Eve were tricked by the serpent's "conception." The yes of Mary at the Annunciation, the culmination of the Immaculate Conception, undoes the disobedience of Eden and makes paradise a possibility once again for us.

Today's reading from the Mass of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary:
Ephesians 1:1-14

1

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the holy ones who are (in Ephesus) faithful in Christ Jesus:

2

grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,

4

as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love

5

he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will,

6

for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved.

7

In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace

8

that he lavished upon us. In all wisdom and insight,

9

he has made known to us the mystery of his will in accord with his favor that he set forth in him

10

as a plan for the fullness of times, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth.

11

In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the one who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,

12

so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.

13

In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised holy Spirit,

14

which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God's possession, to the praise of his glory.

and Today's Gospel Reading Luke 1:26-38

26

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,

27

to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.

28

And coming to her, he said, "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you."

29

But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

30

Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

31

Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.

32

He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,

33

and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

34

But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?"

35

And the angel said to her in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.

36

And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;

37

for nothing will be impossible for God."

38

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.