YEAR C: HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (1)

YEAR C: HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

HOMILY THEME: IMMACULATE CONCEPTION; GOD’S GRACE TO MARY

BY: Fr. Benny Tuazon

HOMILY:

(Lk. 1:26-38) Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

In today’s Gospel, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she will be the mother of the Son of God. It was both surprising and confusing for Mary. Besides being a grand privilege, she could not understand how it can be. The angel assured her that it was the will of God and nothing is impossible with God. With that assurance, she consented to the will of God. This, the work of salvation as planned by God plunge into action.

It was in the sense above that our belief of the Immaculate Conception of Mary was based. Because God wanted Jesus, our Savior, to be born of a woman, He provided Mary with the necessary condition in order for the Incarnation to take place. She was freed from Original Sin, a common condition to everyone born.

What does it mean for Mary to have been freed from Original Sin from birth? How can it be since Jesus, by His death and resurrection had freed us from Original Sin, is still to be born of Mary? It means that God had already effected in Mary the grace of salvation which Jesus would still merit for us. The Immaculate Conception was a grace given to Mary for the purpose of the birth of Jesus, the Son of God.

What is the import of this feast for us? For one, nothing is impossible with God. He can provide situations beyond our human experience to effect His will. But, it also requires our participation and consent. Two, God always invites and offers us His grace. Graces are available but they are never forced. Jesus’ healing ministry would attest to that. Jesus would ask, the sick would consent, and Jesus would heal and testify to the faith of the sick person. God may have made us without our consent but He would not save us without our consent.

This feast is a celebration of God’s wisdom and love. He gave us the best way to be saved. He love us so much that He made us participate in the work of salvation. The knowledge and the belief of the truth of the Immaculate Conception should lead us to trust God and cooperate with His will.

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