Solemnity of Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (December 8): Reflection by Fr Julian Ekeh

Theme: YOU HAVE WON GOD’S FAVOUR

(Luke 1:26–38)

The Church celebrates today, the solemnity of Immaculate Conception. What a joy! To celebrate the woman who won favour in the sight of God. The Church in her Wisdom calls upon us to contemplate the conception of the One whose fiat made the incarnation a success. What we celebrate is the fact that the Blessed Virgin Mary was conceived in a sinless manner. The privileges she enjoyed were all favours from Jesus. Because of Jesus Christ, she was spared from defilements. By such great merit not of her own accord but of God, she became sinless to be able to bear the sinless Saviour of the world who will redeem the world from all her sins.

We celebrate as well, one who cooperated with the grace of God. Many in the Bible found favour with God, but they couldn’t sustain the favour to the end. Mary relied on and trusted in the power of the Almighty. She was sustained in grace.

Each and every one of us by virtue of our being created in the image of God and baptized in the name of the Trinity found special favour with God. Are you still living according to the demands of that favour? Have you lost the favour like King Saul?

Let us sustain the grace of God and cooperate with it now and to the hour of our death, like Mary the Immaculate Mother of Christ.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

Today, as we celebrate the solemnity of Immaculate Conception, may our humble state in life attract divine favours for us. May we be greeted by unmerited goodness from God. May we never abuse the grace of God in our lives. May we gain the favour prepared for us by God, who, in a miraculous way, prepared the Blessed Virgin Mary for our good. May the Blessed Virgin Mary conceived without sin pray for us to be successful in our struggle against temptations and sin through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Solemnity.

God bless your day.

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh