Daily Archives: December 9, 2024

Hope

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Because today’s gospel reading is the same as the gospel for the Solemnity of the Annunciation, I suspect that is part of the reason that people somehow think we are celebrating the conception of Jesus in Mary’s womb. But that is not it at all. We are celebrating the conception of Mary, the daughter of Joachim and Anna, the one who will become the mother of Jesus. What is it that is “immaculate” about this conception? That because of the pure gift of God, and not on the merits of any human being, Mary was conceived without original sin. It is in the teaching of our Church that God provided such a gift so that the mother of His only begotten Son would be the holy and pure Ark of the New Covenant. It is a particular gift to Mary but also a gift to us. Let’s place that in a larger context.

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The long arc of Salvation

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Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. It is a very Catholic celebration that is often misunderstood outside Catholicism (and to be fair sometimes among Catholics). In popular culture there are lots of misconceptions about the Immaculate Conception. In TV and movies when the woman wonders how her pregnancy is possible, “it just can’t be…” there is some character who comments, “Oh, another Immaculate Conception?”  But the conception of Jesus in Mary’s womb by the power of the Holy Spirit is referred to as the Virgin Birth. In correctly-expressed Catholic theology, our celebration, the Immaculate Conception refers to the conception of Mary, the one we honor with the title the Blessed Virgin Mary. If you would like to read about the development of the celebration and the dogma of the Immaculate Conception, you can find that information here.

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John: Prophet and Herald

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The gospel for the 3rd Sunday of Advent in Year C continues the Advent theme of John the Baptist as the herald of the promised good news. In last Sunday’s gospel (Luke 3:1-6), Luke has already connected the ministry and actions of John to the proclamation of the “good news” by the prophet Isaiah:

“ 4 as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one crying out in the desert: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. 5 Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth,   6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” (Luke 3:4-6)

Our reading finds John in the wilderness, baptizing people as he proclaims that his was a “baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 3:3). All of this was part of last week’s gospel for the 2nd Sunday of Advent. Yet, there are several verses that fall between the Advent gospels. Continue reading →