Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception - Luke 1:26-38
This Gospel from Luke is one that
is a very familiar to us. It is the story of the angel’s appearance to Mary and
revelation to her that she would conceive and bear a Son.
Every time I hear or read this
Gospel, I wonder how Mary reacted to the angel’s appearance and even more so,
how she reacted to the angel’s announcement that Mary would have a child? Luke
says that Mary was extremely troubled at the angel’s news. What did all this
mean? How was it to come about? What would she tell Joseph? This was too
fantastic for him to believe! Would he believe her or reject her? Put yourself
in Mary’s place: how would you react?
Yet somehow Mary was able to trust
God and she consented. I believe that it was Mary’s personal relationship with
God that enabled her to trust and say yes to what God was calling her to. Mary
must have trusted God in all things, even this surreal and frightening
situation.
And how was she to explain her
situation to Joseph? Would he be angry and humiliated? Would he spurn her? Yet,
she had to tell him this fantastic tale. Otherwise, he would draw his own
conclusions and naturally believe that she had been with another man. Imagine
the storm of emotions that this young Mary must have experienced!
At times, Jesus (and life) presents
us with difficult or painful situations that stir up a storm of emotion in us.
How do we respond? Do we get angry, fearful, or anxious? Or do we simply
distance ourselves from God? If so, do we work and pray to trust God and also
to move through our fear and anger? Eventually do we come to believe and trust
that God is with us and that God will guide and grace us?
We need to keep ourselves grounded
in the God we know and trust. If we do this, then we truly may be able to
believe that we have the grace, strength, and trust that we need. This will
bring us peace; God will bring us peace.
Today may we ask Mary to pray for
us. She has “walked in these shoes.” She will walk with us also!
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