Word to the Wise
Thursday, December 8, 2016 - Dec. 8 - The Immaculate Conception the Blessed Virgin Mary
[Gen 3:9-15, 20; Eph 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38]THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2016 THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY [Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38] "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." [Luke] The angel Gabriel's statement sums up the theology of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Mary was exempt from the alienation caused by original sin, as shown in the first scripture of this feast from Genesis. The second scripture, from Ephesians, places all of us, including Mary, in a broader plan of salvation. Last but not least, the gospel scripture from Luke recounts how Mary found herself playing a unique role in that plan of salvation. Her unique status is celebrated in this feast day, which is the. Patron all feast day for the Catholic Church in the U.S.A.. It is a holy day of obligation in this country. Yet, despite all this majestic theology, experience is showing that the real party takes place in four days on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Churches that are sparsely attended on December 8th will be filled on December 12th. The contrast gets sharper every year. We Catholics give Mary all kinds of titles. However, in the contrast we experience each year in December, the difference in celebration between the majestic theology of the Immaculate Conception and the care and mercy of Our Lady of Guadalupe show where the hearts of the People of God are found. She's the same woman, but our ways of appreciation are different. We can just say that the party lasts at least four days and leave it at that! AMEN