On
December 8th we are celebrating the Immaculate Conception of Mary. This
feast is telling us something special about the conception of Mary herself. It
is also giving us Mary as a role model for how we should live our lives.
*
Even
as Mary was being conceived in her mother’s womb, God knew that she would always
choose to live a life of total goodness; that at every decision point she would
come to, Mary would always choose to say ‘yes’ to God’s grace and to his love. And
because God had foreknowledge of Mary’s total goodness, he gave her a special
gift at her conception: God told the angels that this little girl, this
immaculate little soul, would always chose light over darkness, and love over
hate; and because of her unselfishness, the world would come to hear the Word
of God from the Christ-child that she would enable to be born.
Years
later, as a young teenage girl, Mary was visited by an angel and given an
amazing invitation: an invitation to be the mother of the Word of God made
flesh; to be an instrument for changing the world forever. And Mary accepted
and said, ‘yes’. But it could have been different.
Mary
is a true role model for us. She was frightened; she had the freedom to say ‘no’
to God, but chose to say, ‘yes’. And because of Mary’s willingness to say, ‘yes,’
the Word of God became present in our world. And that Word of God is constantly
inviting each of us, like Mary, to say, ‘yes’, to use the gift of our lives and
our talents for the glory of God and in loving service to others.
Let
us journey thru Advent like Mary by saying, ‘yes’ to God’s grace and to his love.
Let us see in the challenges of our personal lives and our daily work a call to
follow in Mary’s footsteps, an invitation to consecrate every act of ours to
God, from the simple task of
washing a dish, to the intimacy we share with our loved ones, to the struggle
of maintaining a loving relationship with a difficult person.
Let
us see in everything we do, an invitation to make the Word of God present in
our own little corner of the world.
……………………………………………………………………………………..
Readers of this blog might enjoy these books by
Deacon Lex. Both are available on Amazon.com:
Just to Follow My Friend: Experiencing God’s Presence in Everyday
Life
Synchronicity as the Work of the Holy Spirit: Jungian Insights for
Spiritual Direction and Pastoral Ministry
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