“On your belly shall you crawl, and dirt shall you eat … I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers…
I love watching the last scenes of a mystery or reading the final chapter of a great book. That’s when the story all comes together. Finally makes sense.
I remember when I first noticed the statues of Mary … so beautiful, so blue and yet, she was standing on a snake – crushing it. That’s odd, I thought. Why would such a loving, peaceful woman bother to smash a slithery snake?
I was very young at the time; had not delved deeply into Scripture or our Faith’s teachings about the Mother of God. But today, on this Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, we have a perfect opportunity to ponder God’s perfect plan for our salvation, and how Mary and her perfection play such a key role.
I just love it when a plan comes together. Like that day in 1972 when Terry Bradshaw drifted back and tossed a football downfield, only to watch it bounce off the hands of the guy who was supposed to catch it … and into the hands of Franco Harris, who scooped it out of thin air and ran for a touchdown, giving the Pittsburgh Steelers victory!
They call that the “Immaculate Reception,” perhaps the most famous play in NFL history. (Ever wonder why Marian terms are used for such incredible plays? The term “Hail Mary pass” is now commonly used to reflect a last chance play – against all odds – that incredibly works. Just as we turn to Mary at times when we are up against great odds, fighting for our last chance …)
Those living in Old Testament times must have felt a little like the Steelers that day. Scattered, suffering, living under persecution with practically no hope for salvation. No hope, except for the stories and prophesies proclaiming that a Savior was to come in due time. But when? And how? And what on earth would a woman and a snake have to do with this great plan?
And then along came Gabriel, an angel, bearing some news to a young virgin girl named Mary. And the rest is history … Mary, the new Eve, who did not disobey God; but instead submitted to his “will be done,” thus providing that final chapter of the great plan of how she would become the Mother of Jesus, the Mother of God, the Mother of The Church.
Of course, the key to today’s Solemnity is that God did not simply choose any woman to bear His Son. No, she had to a perfect vessel to bear the New Covenant – much like the perfect vessel, the Ark, was built to house the Old Covenant. This woman, this Mary, had to be pure; without sin.
Which means she had to have been born without the stain of original sin, unlike every other human being that suffers the Original Sin passed on to us by Adam and Eve. And that means our great, all-knowing and all-loving Father in heaven had to create a perfect plan to bring about salvation. And so, he created Mary without sin … an Immaculate Conception … knowing full well that one day her perfect womb would bear His perfect Son.
Think about that a second. God’s plan was to make sure Jesus would be conceived inside a perfect person. Mary, through her innocence and obedience, participated from Day One, even if she did not realize it until Gabriel came knocking.
What does this mean for us today? Certainly in this Advent season, we should reflect on the need to perfect ourselves and purify our souls before Christmas Day – Confession anyone?
But if you think about it, perhaps we should take our Sunday reception of the Eucharist a bit more seriously. How?
>> If the consecrated Host and Cup are truly the Body, Soul and Divinity of the Son of God, then isn’t this Christ coming into our lives again?
>> If the Eucharist is to be consumed into our bodies, where its power should grow and transform us into being “more like Him and less like Us,” isn’t that similar to how God planted His seed of salvation into Mary?
>> Mary would go on to give birth and give us Jesus, our Savior. Similarly, when we leave Mass on Sundays, we are charged with giving others Jesus throughout the week in our daily lives.
>> If we are to be perfect bearers of Christ, should we not do all we can to purify our hearts before we present ourselves at Holy Communion. We pray each Sunday, Lord I am not worthy to receive you under my roof …
Well, isn’t time to get serious about making ourselves worthy of Christ, not just during Advent, but every day of our lives?
Need help doing this?
I suggest we follow the example of Terry Bradshaw and other NFL quarterbacks …
Toss out a Hail Mary every now and then. You’ll be surprised by the results!
