< <  

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

  > >

Immaculate Conception


Genesis 3:9-15, 20
Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12
Psalm 98:1-4
Luke 1:26-38

View Readings
Similar Reflections

get real

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; hence, the holy Offspring to be born will be called Son of God." —Luke 1:35

If you were God and you wanted to become a human being, how could you do it? If you just took on a human form, you would not be a human being but only look like one. You would only be God in a "human being" costume. To really become a human being, you would have to be conceived and born, as all human beings have been. Yet how can the eternal Creator be conceived as a creature in time? How can the all-holy God live in the womb of a woman having our fallen human nature? Aren't God's holiness and humanity's sinful nature incompatible and contradictory?

The Lord overcame the incompatibility of His nature with ours and the impossibility of His Incarnation by being conceived by a virgin-mother, who did not inherit our fallen nature but was herself conceived immaculately. Thus, God really did become a human being. He really does have our human nature. Therefore, He really did atone for our sins and save us by dying on the cross. Only One Who is fully God and fully man could save us. Mary's immaculate conception indicates that it was really God Who really became a man. Therefore, Mary's immaculate conception assures us that our salvation by Jesus is not just a dream or a symbol but the ultimate reality.

Prayer:  "O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you."

Promise:  "He likewise predestined us through Christ Jesus to be His adopted sons — such was His will and pleasure — that all might praise the glorious favor He has bestowed on us in His Beloved." —Eph 1:5-6

Praise:  Praise You, Lord, for sanctifying Mary and preserving her purity for all time! Glory to You, O Lord!

Reference:  (For a related teaching, order our tape on Immaculate Heart of Mary on audio AV 19-1 or video V-19.)

Rescript:  †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, May 28, 2010

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.