TUESDAY 8TH DECEMBER 2020
SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Genesis 3:9-15,20
Psalm 94:1-4
Ephesians 1:3-6,11-12
Luke 1:26-38
SHE WAS CHOSEN BEFORE SHE WAS BORN
Today is a great day in the Catholic church. It is the day we celebrate the fact that the blessed virgin Mary who is going to give birth to our saviour at Christmas, was herself born without original sin. The church teaches that through the sin of disobedience by our first parents as we see in the first reading of today, the human race became alienated from God. Through Adam and Eve, sin and satan entered the world. God had in various ways tried to reconcile us back to himself by sending the prophets to admonish us to turn from our evils and return to him.
In the fullness of time as we see in the gospel reading, God sent his son, born of a woman to reconcile us back to himself. God did not just pick anyone from the street, but chose and prepared a woman even before she was born, to be the mother of the saviour.
In 1854, Pope Pius XI declared it a dogma of faith in his bull, Ineffabilis Deus, that by the singular grace of God and merit of being the mother of Jesus Christ our saviour, the blessed virgin Mary was from the very moment of her conception, preserved from original sin. This means that the blessed virgin Mary was free from the propensity of concupicence and inclination to sin and evil.
God coming into our world could not have dwelt in any dirty or sinful soul, Mary was therefore prepared to be the pure vessel or tabernacle of Jesus.
This feast is recognized by muslims who honour the blessed virgin Mary so much. It is also celebrated in the Eastern Churches.
We honour the blessed virgin Mary today and ask for her intercession to be holy. It is only when we are Holy and pure that God can come and dwell in us. God help us. Amen.
Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP
No comments:
Post a Comment