The solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is taken from Luke 1:26 to the 38th verse. The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you. But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Behold, he will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever. And and of his kingdom there will be no end. But Mary said to the angel, how can this be, since I have no relations with a man? And the angel said to her in reply, 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, Elizabeth, your relative, who has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who is called barren, for nothing will be impossible for God. Mary said, behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word. Then the angel departed from her. When the angel Gabriel tells Mary that she is to be the mother of the Messiah, he also reveals another special birth.

Elizabeth, her cousin, who is way past the time of being able to have a child, is also pregnant, and this child will be named John. It is important to note that John is the necessary link, the transition, the liminal space through which the world will understand fully the corruption of the old and the beauty and the dignity and the value of the new. Please take a moment to reflect, and then I will close with a prayer. Sa. Sam. Satan.

Satan. Satan. The Closing PRAYER Father, there’s a continual work, a continual transformation from religion that has a power over us and a spirit that can enter into us and infuse us with the gifts that we’re here to share with one another. Bless us in this continual transition. Never let us get lazy. Let us not fall back to what is simple and easy.

Let us continue to work with this great mystery. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.