Today the Church celebrates the very important solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We celebrate it to honour mother Mary as the only human person conceived without sin. Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of Mary, were wealthy people, yet chose to live a very simple life by sharing their wealth with the poor, and living in piety. They kept praying to God for a child with the promise that if God gave them a child, they would dedicate it to the service of God. God couldn’t have doubted that promise, because though they were rich, they didn’t allow pride to destroy their faith. Indeed, they recognized God as the source of riches, which they used to his glory. They were ready to be Mary’s parents, because their faith and intentions prepared the grounds for Mary’s conception This became the foundation on which God would build His plan for the coming of our Saviour Jesus Christ. When we reflect on Mary’s life, on her simplicity, humility, perseverance, etc. we can more easily believe that she truly was conceived without sin.
The first reading of today reveals the roots of evil: deception, manipulation, pollution, distraction and other shrewd ways which draw people away from God’s love. These are often used by people who appear outwardly good and innocent, but in fact destroy the social order.
In this reading four characters appear: God, Adam, Eve and the serpent. God desires a life of grace for Adam and Eve (humanity), but the serpent (the devil) seeks to destroy this plan. He claims to offer better advice than God. He deceives the woman who is receptive and through her Adam also agrees. After this, the serpent disappears. Once traitors achieve their goal they disappear from the scene, leaving their victims to face the consequences. This was now the situation of Adam and Eve, and guilt begins to torture them immediately. They try to escape, but don’t know where to go. In our days, too, there are still traitors. It could be our own desires or other people, or external things such as money, power, wealth, fame, etc. All these things entice us and lead us astray.
This reading raises the issue of responsibility. God calls Adam, and asks him where he was. Adam had to bear the greater blame. Despite his attempt to shift blame, God still held him accountable because he was entrusted with the garden and with Eve. God then condemned the serpent for deceiving Eve and Adam and destroying the trust God had built with them. In most cases, traitors believe that they will escape unnoticed but eventually their actions expose them and they suffer the consequences of their actions. God allows them the freedom to act, and they think that they are the winners but justice comes in due time. Once trust is destroyed, enmity replaces friendship. solidarity gives way to egoism, unity to division and harmony to chaos.
The gospel of Luke tells the story of the Annunciation, introducing to us Mary as the woman chosen to bear the Son of God, who will restore our broken relationship with God. The message was overwhelming and frightening, yet Mary recognised the voice of God in it. Like her parents, she acknowledged God as the source of her life. This is how Mary was prepared to be the mother of God.
A good action or decision taken, is a seed sown, which will grow from generation to generation and bear lots of fruits. Parents have a huge role to play in promoting good moral values for their children and policy makers in enacting good policies, thereby shaping the direction society should take. Leaders in general have to enact good laws and social norms, not for selfish gains as Adam and Eve did, but rather for the sake of posterity as Mary demonstrated. God gave humanity the task to subdue the world, not only for the sake of one’s own family, or community, but in a way that makes the world a true home for all peoples and generations. Saints Anne and Joachim sowed the seeds of piety and generosity, producing abundant fruit in Mary. Mary’s faith bore immeasurable fruit in Jesus. When we recognize that all that we have comes from God and that we are stewards, rather than owners, then God can work wonders through us. We are therefore blessed with Mary, for through her God’s love for humanity reaches its fullness in Jesus Christ.
As the second reading reminds us, God sent His Son out of love for us so that through Him we all might be saved. The world may at first sight seem to be full of evil, because of the many challenges there are, but on the contrary, it remains full of goodness and blessings. That is why we are grateful to God for his son Jesus who has shown us how to cultivate good morals and good habits because they enable us to enjoy the riches God has given us. Mary, the saints, the martyrs, and also our founder Cardinal Lavigerie have shown us the path of sacrifice, charity and selflessness which leads us into the hidden mystery of God (Mt 10:39).
By: Josephat Diyuo, M.Afr.