Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Gospel: Luke 1:26-38
Imitate Mary, and Humbly Do the Will of God

The Church celebrates the feast of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception today.

At the beginning of the Gospel for the Mass, Saint Luke specifies that the name of the angel who brought the good news to Mary is the Archangel Gabriel. In his Gospel commentary, Pope St. Gregory the Great teaches us: Gabriel, who is called “the strength of God”, was sent to Mary. He came to announce that the One who humbled Himself to take on human form would put an end to the power of the devil. Therefore, what the strength of God proclaims, the coming heavenly power, is invincible.

Our Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary, was troubled and alarmed when she heard the message from the Archangel. For at that time, Mary was betrothed to Joseph, a descendant of David, but had not known him intimately. This was thus something that seemed utterly impossible. From a human perspective, such words might have sounded like a fantasy, even a cause for anxiety—a natural reaction, just as Mary showed today.

Then Saint Luke records the dialogue between Mary and the angel when she heard this greeting: Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know man?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:34-37)

It is evident that God always bestows abundant graces upon us in all circumstances and helps us attain salvation. Just as after hearing the angel’s reply, Mary trusted in God completely and, with her most humble answer, initiated the work of Christ’s redemption of humanity: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) This beautiful response has brought infinite grace to each of us—the grace that through her obedience, we will regain the righteousness of being God’s adopted sons and daughters through the Savior, Jesus Christ, who was conceived in her immaculately conceived and sinless womb. Through Christ’s preaching, we come to know God; through His death on the cross, we are reconciled with the Father; and through receiving His Body and Blood, our body and soul are nourished and preserved from sin.

Today, let us imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary, and in all things, humbly do the will of God, faithfully fulfilling the mission entrusted to us by Him.

©Totus Tuus 2025
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2025