God’s Work of Salvation
Today the Church celebrates Mary’s Immaculate Conception. The readings of today present us with the themes of sin and salvation. In this scenario, Mary stands as a bridge between the old and new dispensation. The old being the fall, what could be described as the triumph of sin and human weakness and its consequences. The new dispensation being the birth of Christ and his work for the salvation of humankind. Thus, the immaculate conception of the BVM circles around the salvation of humankind. Nevertheless, we cannot talk about salvation without talking of sin and its effect in us and in the world. So, we must understand three parties in the work of redemption – the gracious love of the Father, the redemption accomplished by the Son and a life open to the working of the Holy Spirit.
The Reality of Sin
Against the human tendency to shy away from it, the reality of sin is depicted in the first reading (Gen 3:9-15, 20). If we take it literally, Adam and Eve failed to obey an instruction, namely, to eat the fruits from every other tree in the garden except for the fruit of a particular tree. But they could not obey. They could not resist the desire to eat of the fruit. We are here to observe the reality of the devil and the temptations we face in our everyday life. The devil, (in my own understanding, the external forces, and the internal part of us that often prevents us from attaining our best selves and good actions), knows what is most important for our salvation and will always attack us at these points.
We could observe one unique thing from the parties involved in the fall narrative. Namely, not taking responsibility for their actions. Human beings in their pride often fail to admit limitation. This is mostly the Devil’s tool to keep us in the state of sin. To sin is to be human. But the ability to improve on our weaknesses every day is the work of the divine in us. This cannot take place if we fail to take responsibility for our actions. Or, if we grow used to sin to the extent of making it a normalcy. Our society today, perhaps is one that wishes to do away with the consciousness of sin. But sin is something that is real – injustice, selfishness, greed, envy, hatred, jealousy, laziness, etc., these are real vices that threaten the beauty of the human species. Recognition of sin can only help us to attain a better self. And, a better society for the flourishing of humankind.
Mary’s Triumph over Sin
In contrast to the tendency to sin, the gospel (Gospel: Luke 1:26-38) presents us with the power of God who can do all things, in us and through us by our cooperation with God’s Holy Spirit. The Angel came to Mary and announced the news of her immaculate conception through the Holy Spirit. The young maiden of Nazareth is depicted as one who completely surrendered to God’s will. “I am the handmaid of the Lord…” Her steadfastness and attentive obedience to the word of God is one which is not limited to words of understanding but is deeply and personally involved. What strikes us about Mary is above all her lowliness and docility to the will of God. Mary’s sentiments in her meeting with the Angel are forcefully expressed in her yes – “Be it done to me as you will.”
In St John Paul’s expression, “By her words and her silence the Virgin Mary stands before us as a model for our pilgrim way. It is not an easy way: as a result of the fall of our first parents, humanity is marked by the wounds of sin, whose consequences continue to be felt also among the redeemed. But evil and death will not have the last word!” Mary is a witness to the victory of God’s Spirit in us over sin. That is why the faithful acknowledge Mary, imitate her, and ask for her intercession.
References – Homily of the Holy Father John Paul II, on the 150th anniversary of the solemn definition of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception by Blessed Pius IX in the Apostolic Constitution Ineffabilis Deus, Sunday, 15 August 2004.
