Beauty Unveiled
Luke 1:26-38 Introductory Prayer: Hail Mary, full of grace! Mother, I praise you and congratulate you today as we celebrate your feast. Thank you for the example you gave us while you were on earth. You have taught me how to live so many virtues. Teach me how to pray today so that I may win the grace to live as you did. Petition:Let it be done to me according to your will. 1. Dont Be Afraid. On the feast of the Immaculate Conception, we celebrate the moment when the Blessed Virgin Mary was conceived without original sin. From the first moment of life, Mary was sinless, just like Eve before the Fall. Though both were created sinless, only Mary persevered in her immaculate state by fighting to do Gods will. The fight to be faithful is what we can offer God today: Do not be afraid to show your love for God by doing his will. 2. Gods the Protagonist. Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you. Today we celebrate a feast honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the other great Marian feasts we celebrate how Mary generously collaborated with Gods action in her soul. In being immaculately conceived, Mary plays a passive role, while the protagonist is God. God is also the protagonist in our fight to be holy. Often times, the best thing we can do is let go and allow God to take over. He wants to be the protagonist in our striving for holiness today. 3. Getting to Yes. Just as you are doing your daily meditation now, one day Mary, a girl in a poor town of about 500 inhabitants, was doing hers. Suddenly, an angel appears, startles her and proposes to her the sublime mission of being the mother of the Messiah. All creation is pending on her answer as she ponders the message in her heart. One final push by the angel For nothing will be impossible for God and the young Mary answers, Let it be done to me. Though an angel probably wont appear during your meditation, Gods grace asks you for a yes today just like Marys. Dialogue with Christ: Lord, I thank you for the gift of Mary. She gives me an example of a life perfectly united to your will. Help me today to live as she did, to give myself without thinking of myself, and to be open to what you want to do through me today. Resolution: I will invite one or more friends or family members to Mass with me today. |