Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
With Advent approaching this weekend, I am reminded that this is truly the Season of Mary, something we are reminded of consistently throughout the upcoming season and the days leading up to the birth of Christ.
As we often read in Scripture, Jesus often amazed those who witnessed his miracles – the changing of water to wine, the healing of the sick and blind, the raising of the dead.
But with that in mind, I can’t help but think of how the humble Mary does the same for us today.
Mary is a puzzle to some, but a healer to many as she intercedes for us and helps us do battle against our sinful ways.
I remember, back when I first began exploring the depths of our faith, how I noticed the statues of Mary … so beautiful, so blue and yet, she was standing on a snake – crushing it! That’s odd, I thought. Why would such a loving, peaceful woman bother to smash a slithery snake?
I learned that this image of Mary crushing the snake was a graphic depiction of Mary defeating Satan, who had been reduced to a snake after deceiving Adam and Eve in the Book of Genesis. In that same narrative, we learn that Mary (the new Eve) would forever be our hope and our strength to battle the deceptive powers of evil.
This season of Advent, when we observe the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, we have a perfect opportunity to ponder God’s perfect plan for our salvation, and how Mary and her perfection play such a key role.
Those living in Old Testament times were scattered, suffering, living under persecution with practically no hope for salvation. No hope, except for the stories and prophesies proclaiming that a Savior was to come in due time. But when? And how?
Then along came Gabriel, an angel, bearing some news to a young virgin girl named Mary. And the rest is history … Mary, the new Eve, who did not disobey God; but instead submitted to his “will be done,” thus providing that final chapter of the great plan of how she would become the Mother of Jesus, the Mother of God, the Mother of The Church.
Of course, God did not simply choose any woman to bear His Son. No, she had to be a perfect vessel to bear the New Covenant – much like the perfect vessel, the Ark, was built to house the Old Covenant. This woman, this Mary, had to be pure; without sin.
Which means she had to have been born without the stain of original sin, unlike every other human being that suffers the Original Sin passed on to us by Adam and Eve. And that means our great, all-knowing and all-loving Father in heaven had to create a perfect plan – through Mary – to bring about salvation.
And so, he created Mary without sin … an Immaculate Conception … knowing full well that one day her perfect womb would bear His perfect Son.
Think about that a second. God’s plan was to make sure Jesus would be conceived inside a perfect person. Mary, through her innocence and obedience, participated from Day One, even if she did not realize it until Gabriel came knocking.
What does this mean for us today? Certainly, in this upcoming Advent season, we should reflect on the need to perfect ourselves and purify our souls before Christmas Day – Confession anyone?
But if you think about it, perhaps we should take our Sunday reception of the Eucharist a bit more seriously. How?
If the consecrated Host and Cup are truly the Body, Soul and Divinity of the Son of God, then isn’t this Christ coming into our lives again? If the Eucharist is to be consumed into our bodies, where its power should grow and transform us into being “more like Him and less like Us,” isn’t that similar to how God planted His seed of salvation into Mary?
Mary would go on to give birth and give us Jesus, our Savior. Similarly, when we leave Mass on Sundays, we are charged with giving others Jesus throughout the week in our daily lives.
If we are to be perfect bearers of Christ, should we not do all we can to purify our hearts before we present ourselves at Holy Communion. We pray each Sunday, Lord I am not worthy to receive you under my roof …
Well, isn’t it time to get serious about making ourselves worthy of Christ, not just during Advent, but every day of our lives?
The wonderful news is that this weekend is the Church’s version of “Happy New Year.” Advent marks the beginning of a new Liturgical year – a perfect time to examine our conscience, our habits, our passions. Are they ordered toward God and a closer relationship to Jesus?
If not … now might be the time to make a set of “Advent Resolutions” to get back on track.
Pray more. Be kind. Love … everyone. Strengthen your faith.
Now THAT would be a nice gift at Christmas, eh? A gift of faith … to yourself (and to others who will be watching you transform into a little more like Jesus and a little less like you.)
As the song says: “Let every heart … prepare him room.”
