Lectionary: 689In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ.
I am still ruminating about a podcast conversation I heard on the subject of "God." It seems to me, if you don't want to believe in God, suit yourself; but let the rest of us love and worship and serve our wonderful God -- the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit -- who chose and destined us in accord with His purpose so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, who first hoped in Christ!
And if you want to believe in God, Come on in, the (baptismal) water's fine!
It is such a consummate pleasure to love the Lord, especially the Lord God whom Mary worshiped with all her immaculate heart and beautiful soul.
The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is not an occasion for explaining our love of Mary. Anyone can look that up on the Internet. If you can explain your love for someone, it can't be much of a love affair.
Rather, this feast day is an occasion of sheer delight. With today's gospel we relive that moment when the Angel Gabriel astonished the young woman with his Gospel, that she would be the mother of the messiah. She had prayed all her life for the coming of the Messiah; she had never dreamed that she might be his mother. Until that moment I doubt she had thought so deeply on the matter; does the Messiah need a mother? But then, where else would he come from?
Is it any wonder she pondered these things deeply in her heart? Her contemplations began with the Angel's strange, unexpected greeting, "Hail, Full of Grace! The Lord is with you!"
What could that mean?
But before she could even begin to think about it, Gabriel went on,
Do not be afraid, Maryfor you have found favor with God.Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,and you shall name him Jesus.He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,and of his Kingdom there will be no end."That's six breathless ands, each followed by an astonishing statement about the Son she was not expecting to bear until just now. Those six are followed by three more with the same earth-shattering news about the Holy Spirit and her relative Elizabeth and nothing is impossible with God!
It's all so overwhelming and yet she -- this amazing young woman -- stands up before this perfect storm of blessings and says,
"Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.May it be done to me according to your word."Let the skeptics stand back and be quiet for a moment while we weep for sheer joy.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.