Immaculate Conception. (2023-12-08)

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Immaculate Conception

[__00__]   In our first reading from Genesis, we read that Adam and Eve hide themselves because they are afraid. They also hide themselves because they have now recalled who is really in charge, in the Garden of Eden.

          Recently, I was with religious education class downstairs on our lower level of this building in Connor Hall.  A child recognized me as the priest from “church” – I told the child that yes, she can see me in church, but actually I am “not” the man upstairs. God is in charge.

          Adam and Eve forgot this part.

[__01__]    From time to time, my brother and I travel with my parents to medical appointments or other appointments in NYC and recently there was such an appointment at a place very familiar to all of us – because at one time, my brother, father and I all worked in this particular neighborhood near Grand Central Station, 42^nd Street.

          There were many conversations about what type of journey what type of commute to make. Should we take the bus, the train, the ferry from Weehawken ?

          I felt strongly we should go by train and arrive in Penn Station at 34^th Street. But we needed to get to 42^nd Street. My father wanted to go by bus so we could arrive at Port Authority on 42^nd Street. It dawned on me that at this errand to NYC was not just about a journey but also an acknowledgement of who was in charge.

          By the way, guess what? We took the bus!

 

[__02__]  The doctrine and teaching of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, the Mother of God is not only about the means of our salvation – but also about who is in charge.

          Why is doctrine necessary in our faith?

          The reason for it is not to make Mary into a goddess or to elevate here higher than Jesus who is above all and King and Ruler.

          The reason is to teach us about both our journey and destination in human salvation and human terms.

 

[__03__]  Yes, it is possible that God could have deleted or done away with original sin and shown his mercy through angels or some other means.

          But, God chose to reveal himself through the Incarnation of the 2^nd person of the Trinity. Jesus of Nazareth is a divine person with a human nature.

          In order for Jesus to be born FULLY DIVINE with a human nature, he cannot be born in sinful flesh.   (By the way, Mary was not only the person immaculately conceived by God – for Jesus was also immaculately conceived…and prior to fall, Adam and Eve were conceived without original sin).

          Jesus takes his flesh, his DNA, from that of his mother, in order to be FULLY HUMAN.

 

[__04__]  Does this mean that Jesus and Mary and Joseph always agreed on absolutely everything?

          There was a little dispute between them at the Cana wedding about what to do about the wine shortage.

          Yes, temporarily, there may have been disagreements. There was conflict and contradiction in Mary’s heart in that she had to endure seeing her Son to put to death. In some sense, Jesus’ words of “not my will but thine be done” would apply to Mary as well.

          Mary knew sorrow for Jesus’ suffering. And, to answer the question in the the popular song, Mary did know that her baby boy was Lord of all creation, that Jesus was in charge.

          In this regard, Mary and Jesus did agree on his ultimate destination in his Passion, Death and Resurrection.

 

[__05__]   Can your destination or destiny or situation or struggle go beyond what your origin or experiences are?

          Yes, we believe this is possible not just by commuting to work or working from home in the American pursuit of happiness.

          But, rather by our belief that our being and existence is not just a material identity and person for this earth. As persons, we desire and crave material comforts.

          Certainly, I want and crave certain material comforts, not least of all the ideal temperature inside and outside at all times.

The doctrine of the I.C. is not given just to make me feel good inside, but points out that we were not made only for this world.

And we are given the Sacraments – Baptism, C, C,   Penance, Anointing, Matrimony, Holy Orders – not just for celebrations here and to mark time but to get to heaven.

One of my mentors in the seminary pointed that he would tell seminarians studying for the priesthood that their priesthood is given to them not for them to have a calling here on earth…but for them to get to heaven.

 [__06__] Mary cooperates with God by becoming the first disciple of Jesus, the first parishioner of the Church, and the first volunteer organizer and first petitioner with prayers now and at the hour of our death.     [__end__]