God Never Gives Up On Us (Immaculate Conception)

There’s so much brokenness in this world... in our communities... in our families... my family... in ourselves...  my self... that somehow sin and its effects become more apparent to us than the grace of God.  

Lest we succumb to the hopelessness of being forever subjected to the universal curse of sin, today’s Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception reminds us that God has never given up on us.  We gather to reflect upon the profound mystery of God's plan for the salvation of humanity. This feast reminds us of the consequences of sin and brokenness in our lives, but also of the immense love and graciousness of our Heavenly Father, who never gives up on us.

Sin has marred our existence as presented to us by the first reading from the Book of Genesis (Gen 3:9-15, 20) where we are reminded of the sin of humanity's first parents-- disobedience to God.  It has fractured our relationship with God and with one another. It has caused pain, suffering, and division in our world. We experience the effects of sin in our daily lives, in our thoughts, words, and actions. We fall short, we stumble, and we feel the weight of our own helplessness in the face of temptations and struggles.

But in this darkness, we find a glimmer of hope, a ray of divine light. God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy, chose a woman named Mary and favoured her with “fullness of grace” since her conception so that, having been saved from the vicious clout of sin, she may bring forth the spotless saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ, into this world... to heal it, to make it whole again, to re-create it.   

Mary, immaculately conceived, stands before us as a sign of hope and a source of inspiration. She is the exemplar of God's graciousness and His unwavering love for humanity. While we may feel helpless in the face of sin, God never abandons us. He chose Mary to be the vessel through which His Son would enter our world, to redeem us and offer us the gift of salvation.

In the gospel reading today, Mary inspires us with her response to God's grace: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word" (Lk. 1: 37). Through Mary's fiat, her "yes" to God's plan, she embodies our own response to God's call for redemption. In her obedience, humility, and faith, she becomes a model for us to imitate. Mary's life teaches us that, despite our brokenness, God's grace can transform us into vessels of His love and mercy.

As we celebrate this solemnity, let us reflect on the depth of God's love for us. Let us acknowledge our own sinfulness, brokenness, and helplessness. But let us also embrace the hope that Mary represents, recognizing that God's grace has the power to heal, restore, and transform us.

Today, we ask for the intercession of the Immaculate Conception, the ever-virgin Mary, to help us on our journey towards holiness. May she guide us, inspire us, and teach us how to surrender ourselves completely to God's will. Through her prayers, may we experience the graciousness of God, who never abandons us, but continually calls us to newness of life.

May the feast of the Immaculate Conception remind us of the precious gift of God's grace and the transformative power it holds. Let us strive to live lives worthy of this grace, allowing Mary's example to guide us to our ultimate destination, eternal union with God.

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Today, as I fix my eyes on Mary, I let my tears flow for I am humbled by my brokenness but I am lifted up by the confidence that God has not given up on me and He will never ever give up on me.