Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
The angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you!“ Mary was
troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean.
But the angel said, “Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly on you. You shall
conceive and bear a son; and you shall call him Jesus. He will be great, and shall rightly
be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his
ancestor; he will rule over the people of Jacob forever; and his reign shall have no end.“
Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?“ And the angel said to
her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow
you;With God nothing is impossible.“ Then Mary said, “I am the handmaid of the Lord,
let it be done to me as you have said.“ And the angel left her.
Reflect
In these early days of Advent, we observe the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed
Virgin Mary. This often-misunderstood feast celebrates that Mary, through the grace of God,
was conceived without the original sin that our first parents brought into the world through
their disobedience. God prepared Mary to be the mother of his Son by blessing her and
filling her with his grace from the very moment of her conception. Because she was free
from original sin Mary was able to conform her life perfect to God’s will, giving him her
fiat, her yes, to his invitation to bring his Son to birth.
But what does this feast mean for us? Mary is an example for us. Though we must still
battle the effects of original sin, Mary reminds us that reliance on God’s grace will help us
conform our lives to his will and say yes to whatever God asks of us. If we do so, we will
join Mary and all the saints in heaven forever.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2023