THE WORD
Gn 3: 9–15.20 / Eph 1: 3–6.11–12 / Lk 1: 26–38
In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. 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, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” 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. 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; for nothing will be impossible for God.” 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.
IN OTHER WORDS
In a pilgrimage to Europe, I was asked to celebrate a mass using a big gold antique chalice encrusted with stone jewels. It seemed to be one of those used by popes before. While I considered it a privilege, I admit I felt it a bit superfluous to have such an extravagant vessel to celebrate a mass with when a simple chalice would do. That thought changed, of course, when I considered what that chalice would hold. Would the Blood of Christ deserve anything less?
The feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary reminds me of the chalice, because in a way, when Mary was carrying Jesus in her womb, she was a vessel of God. Would the Incarnate Son of God deserve anything less than the Blessed Virgin Mary? Nobody is perfect, we say. Everybody has their faults and sins. This is true only if we exempt the Blessed Virgin Mary. Because God made her the perfect vessel from whom the Son of God was to assume the flesh of our humanity.
The privilege of Mary being conceived in the womb free from the stain of original sin from the first moment of conception was granted to her in view of her becoming the Mother of God. The point was made twice in the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary. “You will bear a son…and he will be called the Son of the Most High.” The honor of Mary being sinless and conceived immaculate, therefore, owes to the holy child that she was to bring forth into the world.
We hold Mother Mary with much devotion and love because God conferred such a great honor on her. The angel’s greeting revealed that she was the favoured one, chosen by God, filled with grace and the Holy Spirit. Could this be said of Mary if there were any sin in her? We look to Mary with pride because God chose a simple humble woman, human like us, and made her great in holiness. We thank Mary, for by her “Yes” the hope of salvation was made possible to us. It is only right that we call on her: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
- Fr. Emil Lim, SVD (Hong Kong)
The Word in other words 2015
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
