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Monday, December 08, 2003

Meditation
Ephesians 1:3-6,11-12

The Immaculate Conception

It’s easy to see that Mary was singled out to live for the praise of God’s glory: She was conceived without sin! After all, isn’t that what we are celebrating today? It’s also easy to assume that God permitted Mary to be conceived in this way because he thought she was special. The unspoken thought behind that assumption is that somehow we’re less special to God. And that is simply not true. We too have been appointed to live for the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1:12)!

Every single one of us has been decreed, before all time, by God’s divine will to be his son or daughter. God chose us. He planned that we would belong to him—his children, his treasured people (Deuteronomy 7:6), holy and blameless in his sight (Ephesians 1:4). It wasn’t just his will, it was his pleasure (1:5)! God has always been eternally committed to us.

In order to rescue us from the sin we had fallen into, God needed a pure vessel to bear his Son, our Redeemer. That’s why Mary was conceived without sin. Having chosen and created and destined us to be holy and blameless before him, God provided a way for us to return to the intimate, loving relationship he always wanted to enjoy with each of us. And Mary, conceived immaculate, was part of that plan.

What does that say about our lives? It says we are special to God! It says we can rely on him for everything. It says he will never abandon us or leave us without a way to him. God works out everything according to the purpose of his will (Ephesians 1:11). In his eyes, each of us is equally loved, equally special, and equally unique. Brothers and sisters, today ask for a grander perspective of his love for you and of your worth in his sight.

“Glorious God, great are you in power and love! You are faithful and unchanging. You always accomplish what you intend. Your plans stand unchanged, unthwarted throughout time. Great are you, Lord, and greatly to be exalted!

One Bread, One Body

<< Monday, December 8, 2003 >>

Immaculate Conception

Genesis 3:9-15, 20
Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12

Psalm 98
Luke 1:26-38

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HOPE — EVEN UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES

God “chose us in Him before the world began, to be holy and blameless in His sight.” —Ephesians 1:4

The Lord created the human race to be with Him in Paradise. However, because of the original sin, we:

lost Paradise,
severely wounded our human nature,
fell from God’s grace, and
brought into our lives fear (Gn 3:10), shame (Gn 3:10), blame (Gn 3:12ff), pain (Gn 3:16, 19), violence (Gn 4:8), death (see Rm 6:23), self-deception, self-hatred, slavery, alienation, even damnation, and so much more.

Original sin is the most depressing fact of life. When we realize this, we cry out: “What a wretched man I am! Who can free me from this body under the power of death?” (Rm 7:24) Jesus Christ alone has freed us from original sin and its devastating effects. In fact, Jesus freed His mother Mary from ever having original sin. She was immaculately conceived. Mary is therefore “a sign of sure hope” (see Lumen Gentium, 68) for all of us that original sin with its death and damnation need not be the final word. Jesus is Lord of all, including original sin. “He is always able to save those who approach God through Him” (Heb 7:25). Jesus is our Lord and Savior. Mary Immaculate is a sign of hope pointing us to her Son, Jesus. No matter how shattered your life, broken your world, and sinful your society, look to Jesus and rejoice.

Prayer: Father, on this holy day, make me immaculate as I repent of my sins, confess them, and receive Your forgiveness.

Promise: “Nothing is impossible with God.” —Lk 1:37

Praise: Mary Immaculate is a sure sign of the sovereignty of her Son Jesus as Lord of life and Lord of time.