Tuesday 8^th December – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed   Virgin Mary

Reflection: Luke 1:26-38

YOU ARE GOD’S MASTERPIECE

Have you ever marvelled at the variety of natural abilities and talents God has endowed each one of us with? Indeed, every individual is created unique with a combination of gifts, talents, the environment and circumstances required to fulfil his own purpose in life. Today, the Church celebrates the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother, Mary; an article of faith that confesses that our Blessed Mother was preserved from original sin right from the moment of her conception in the womb of her mother.

Why was this privilege necessary? God had chosen her, even before her conception to be the mother of His son, Jesus Christ. Since Jesus was to be pure and sinless, it was necessary for our Blessed Mother herself to be sinless so as to carry within her the Saviour of the world. This unique act of God should remind us as young people that God has created each of us as we are, not by accident, but in order to fulfil His purpose for our lives. Think of Elizabeth and Zechariah, whom God had destined would bring forth John the Baptist, the fore-runner of Christ. This righteous couple had to endure the inconvenience, sadness and shame of barrenness for a long time as the fullness of time had to be reached. Little did they know that God had greater plans for them.

My dear friend, just as our Blessed Mother is God’s masterpiece, created specially to bring our Saviour into the world; you are also God’s masterpiece, designed with extra ordinary skill. God has a unique role for you in this world and you must live each day with that consciousness. He has made you who you are for a purpose. Let us turn to God today and ask Him for direction so that we may fulfil His purpose for our lives like our Blessed Mother did. Let us also ask for our mother’s intercession that we may identify the call of God on our lives in our youth and start living out that call.

PRAYER: My heavenly Father, I thank you for the reminder today that I am not in this world by chance. Please help me to put to use the talents you have given me in a way that glorifies you. Mary my mother, please intercede for me today that I may fulfil God’s divine purpose for my existence. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 83 – What does the “Immaculate Conception of Mary” mean?

The Church believes that “the most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin”

HIDE A TREASURE: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations” Jeremiah 1:5 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Psalm 98: 1-4; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38