Homily for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

This evening, we are celebrating Mary’s “yes” to the Archangel Gabriel. We are celebrating that Our Lady was open to doing God’s will, and was thus able to become the mother of His Son. In short, we are celebrating Mary’s openness to her role within God’s plan of salvation.

To help us understand how Mary fits in to the history of salvation, we go all the way back to the beginning of the Scriptures. Our first reading shows us the result of the Original Sin – the embarrassment at being naked by Adam and Eve – and the blame being passed for that sin. There is also a message of hope in this passage, as it makes the promise that one would come to save us from the effects of sin in our lives.

Of course we know as Christians who that savior is: Our Lord Jesus Christ. There is often a contrast made between Adam and Jesus. Adam sought to become like God, as the serpent temped him to do, but Jesus lowered himself from His equality with God when He chose to become human. Adam died because of sin, but Jesus died to conquer sin.

In addition, a contrast is made between Eve and Mary. Eve said “yes” to the temptation of the Devil, and became sinful. Our Lady said “yes” to God, and was made sinless from her very first moment of existence. Eve lost the perfection of paradise by her pride, but Mary gained sinless perfection by her humility.

Because of these comparisons, Jesus and Mary are often referred to as the New Adam and Eve. The first Adam and Eve cooperated in allowing sin’s entrance into the world, but Jesus and Mary, the New Adam and Eve, cooperated in conquering sin in the world. Through Mary’s “yes”, we can now share in the adoption that St. Paul tells us God destined for us; an adoption as sons and daughters of God.

As adopted sons and daughters of God our Heavenly Father, we are challenged to follow the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary in saying “yes” to God’s will for our lives, as we are all called to participate in God’s plan of salvation. This morning, following my reflection on the radio, I played a song called “Look Like a Fool” by the Catholic artist Matt Maher. The first line goes, “All God’s creatures got a place in the choir”. We all have a place in God’s plan of salvation. The challenge for us as Christians is to open ourselves to finding that place, and to respond with the same “yes” that Mary did: “May it be done to me according to your word.”

This evening, as we celebrate this Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, may we echo Mary’s “yes” with our own, and take our places in God’s loving plan of salvation.