THE DAILY GOSPEL

December 8, 2015 (Tuesday)

Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has

done marvelous deeds. Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Psalter: Proper / (White) 1st Reading: Gen 3:9-15, 20

Yahweh God called the man saying to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.” God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree I ordered you not to eat?” The man answered, “The woman you put with me gave me fruit from the tree and I ate it.” God said to the woman, “What have you done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me and I ate.”

Yahweh God said to the serpent, “Since you have done that, be cursed among all the cattle and wild beasts! You will crawl on your belly and eat dust all the days of your life. I will make you enemies, you and the woman, your offspring and her offspring. He will crush your head and you will strike his heel.

The man called his wife by the name of Eve, because she was the mother of all the living. 2nd Reading: Eph 1:3-6, 11-12

Blessed be God, the Father of Christ Jesus our Lord, who in Christ has blessed us from heaven with every spiritual blessing. God chose us in Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and without sin in his presence. From eternity he destined us in love to be his adopted sons and daughters through Christ Jesus, thus fulfilling his free and generous will. This goal suited him: that his loving-kindness which he granted us in his Beloved might finally receive all glory and praise.

By a decree of Himwho disposes all things according to his own plan and decision we, the Jews, have been chosen and called and we were awaiting the Messiah, for the praise of his glory. Gospel: Lk 1:26-38

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth. He was sent to a virgin who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. The angel came to her and said, “Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” Mary was troubled at these words, wondering what this greeting could mean.

But the angel said, “Do not fear, Mary, for God has looked kindly on you. You shall conceive and bear a son and you shall call him Jesus. He will be great and shall rightly be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the kingdom of David, his ancestor; he will rule over the people of Jacob forever and his reign shall have no end.”

Then Mary said to the angel, “Howcan this be if I am a virgin?” And the angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the holy child to be born of you shall be called Son of God. Even your relative Elizabeth is expecting a son in her old age, although she was unable to have a child, and she is now in her sixth month. With God nothing is impossible.”

Then Mary said, “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said.” And the angel left her. Reflection:

The Immaculate Conception of Mary was declared by Bl. Pius IX in 1854. Centuries of liturgical celebration and theological discussions had preceded it. In 1830 the grace of the “miraculous medal” and the 1858 apparition of Mary at Lourdes confirmed the papal proclamation. But the source of this particular grace of Mary lies in the Gospel of today, and is the realization of the promised victory against Satan in the eternal design of God.

Yes, Mary was full of grace from the moment of her conception in the womb of St Ann. Demons never dominated her soul, because she was predestined to be the mother of Jesus, the Son of Godwho became man for us in her womb.

Can we live this celebration as personal “good news?” We can praise and thankGod for the fullness of grace of Mary that prepares the advent of Jesus.

But also the “Immaculate Conception” is the starting point that will flourish in the glory of Assumption, through a life of faithfulness to Jesus. Our baptism is the starting point of grace that will support us until the final resurrection beyond our death. Let us behold in Mary the model and the intercessor of our holiness and salvation.

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