Today we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The teaching states that “in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin….” This doctrine applies to Mary but is primarily about the grace of God. Jesus has not even been born to her yet, but it is through his merits that she is preserved from original sin. Mary owes everything to her son, the Savior of the human race, including herself.
In the Genesis reading the serpent is told that God will put enmity between him and “the woman.” Her offspring will strike at his head while the serpent strikes at his heel. The earliest Christians understood her offspring to be a reference to Jesus. The ancient serpent will strike at him, but her offspring will crush the serpent’s head. Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ highlights this during the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane before Jesus is arrested. A serpent is crawling on the ground and Jesus stomps on his head. I also find Jesus’ reference to his mother interesting. On many occasions he simply calls her “woman.” I don’t think he’s being disrespectful. He’s using the language of Genesis. She is “the woman.” She is the one whose offspring will destroy the work of the ancient serpent. Eve became “the mother of all the living.” The new Eve is the Mother of God.
All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise.
R. Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous deeds.
The same grace that preserved Mary from original sin also saves us. St. Paul calls us blessed, chosen, destined for adoption, and all because of God’s love for us from before the foundation of the world. It was God’s will that Mary be full of grace; it is his will that we receive his favor. He grants us his grace so that we become holy and without blemish. In doing this in us we “exist for the praise of his glory.”
When the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary he refers to her as “full of grace.” Although Origen said that he had not found this word anywhere else in Scripture, it is used once more in Ephesians 1:6, today’s second reading. Mary is highly favored by God and will be the bearer of the Son of God. St. Paul says that we, too, are highly favored by God. God granted his grace to the virgin, and he grants it to us.
God is love. Flowing from his love is his grace and mercy. Mary received his grace from the moment of her conception. We receive that grace as adopted children of God. Today we celebrate the Blessed Virgin. Let us also celebrate that grace that was poured out upon us when our Father brought us into his kingdom. It is a kingdom of grace.
Be blessed today, brothers and sisters. Mary and her children are full of grace.
George Butterfield
I served as the Legal Reference Librarian at the Creighton University Law School Library from August, 2007, until August of 2017. I also taught Legal Research to first year law students and Advanced Legal Research to second and third year law students. In August of 2017 I took the position of Director of Evangelization and Catechesis for the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edmond, Oklahoma, and served in that capacity until Covid hit and the church staff was cut in half. Recently I took a position with the St. Gerald Catholic Church in Omaha, Nebraska, and my wife and I moved back to the Omaha suburb of Papillion.
My wife, Deb, and I have been married since 1970. She grew up in Oklahoma City and I migrated south from southwestern Pennsylvania. God has blessed us with three children, four living grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. I spent the first thirty years of our marriage as a minister so our family moved a lot. We have lived in several states, including Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, and California.
I enjoy walking, reading, listening to audio books, playing with my Pekingnese, Max, my Maltese-Schnauzer, Blaise, and seeing my grandkids grow up. I am a Catholic deacon, having been ordained by Archbishop George Lucas on May 5, 2012.
There is nothing to compare with reflecting on scripture. I feel privileged to participate in these daily reflections. Although we don’t know whether or not St. Francis ever said it, one idea associated with him is that we preach the gospel always and, when necessary, use words. May these reflections be gospel words, good news, of our gracious Lord Jesus Christ.
