Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Reflection

“And coming to her, [the angel Gabriel] said, ‘Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” But [Mary] was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.”
–Luke 1:28-29

Prayer

God-with-us,

We have grown perhaps too cozy with the story of your coming. Awaken us again to the disturbing wonder of the way you entered our world. When you chose to make your home in our flesh, you did not choose the greatest and brightest in our eyes. A young girl from a seemingly insignificant village was brought into the very center of history. May we all have a share in Mary’s pondering heart. May we be more attentive to the mysterious ways in which you really do choose to come and meet us, right where we are. And may we all have the grace to say “yes” to your call on our lives, no matter what we are called to do. Amen.

Call to Action

How do I stay alert to the arrival of sacred encounters? Make a choice to remain attentive to the many ways in which a divine presence may come greet me in the seemingly insignificant moments of my day.