Francis Gayang csc –
Readings: Gen 3:9-15,20; Eph 1:3-6, 11-12; Lk 1:26-38
The Genesis story of creation narrates the joyful life of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. Everything went fine until they desired more. Their greed led them to disobey of God’s commands and eat dirt from the forbidden tree. Due to shame, they ran away and hid from the sight of God. Adam blamed Eve to justify himself.
In the Gospel, we have Mary, the new Eve, who was always in God’s presence. She is the spiritual mother of humanity as given by Jesus her son (John 19:26–27). Her conception was different from that of human interference, she was set apart and consecrated to be a virgin mother. She spent all her life listening to God’s word and doing his will. Unlike Eve who alienated human beings from God, Mary brings God to Humans. The word of God affirmed to us that Mary was sinless (Lk 1:28).
Today the universal church celebrates the feast of ‘The Immaculate Conception.’ The figure of the Immaculate conception entitled to Mary was inspired by the grace of God. It was the Council of Ephesus 431, who formally made known Mary as ‘Theotokos’- Mother of God. The mystery revealed God’s desire for the salvation of all. God didn’t keep Mary to himself, He gave her to us as our spiritual mother.
As the descendants of Adam and Eve, each of us has the inclination to sin, but through baptism in Christ’s name the son of Mary, we are free from that original sin and establishes right relationship with God. We are called to rise above and imitate Mary by being open to the word of God and make her response to the angel Gabriel, be our prayer, ‘Let it be done to me according to thy word’ (Lk 1:38).