Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Scripture:
Genesis 3:9-15, 20
Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12
Luke 1:26-38
Reflection:
In the midst of this season of hope, every year we celebrate this solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. A young girl gets pregnant by the power of God. God still impregnates people with dreams, creativity and passion to become all he has called them to be.
I once was given a book called The Spirituality of Surrender by James Kirshner. The author wrote about surrender from many different perspectives. For example, many see surrender as a passive, inactive yielding. While that is true, real surrender involves being proactive. Those who truly surrender to God are they who get involved and make a difference. Surrender means dying to self and living for others. Surrender takes meaning when one actively works to realize their potential. Far from being a passive reality, surrender is very active.
When Mary said "Yes" to God, it was a moment of surrender. Her yes was born as she treasured in her heart the great things God was doing. Her yes would commit her not only to a silent acceptance, but an active participation in God’s will. She nurtured Jesus in her womb. She lovingly raised Jesus. All throughout his life she suffered nobly. There is no more poignant example of a surrendered woman than meditating on Michelangelo’s Pieta. During this season of Advent we are invited to reflect about the great things God is doing in our lives. Our reflections ought to lead us to a more radical surrender, passive as well as active. With Mary we can say yes to God again and again as we strive to realize our potential and live with passion.
Fr. Cedric Pisegna, C.P. is a missionary preacher, author of 12 books and creator of the TV program Live with Passion! airing in many cities. You can learn more about his ministry at: http://www.frcedric.org/