A legend goes thus…

There was once a great debate in heaven as to who was the Greatest Monument of the Grace of God.

Each of the redeemed, began to speak of their experience with the Grace of God.

Each one told of their story of life…
>> how they were so steeped in sin
>> how they had immersed themselves in wickedness
… and how the Grace of God had rescued and redeemed them!

Many of them also spoke of how, at their deathbed, a conversion had happened and it was purely the bountiful Grace of God that had saved them.

But just before voting was conducted, another of the redeemed stepped forward to tell of his story…

He had come to know of the love of Christ as a child
… He had followed it all the days of his life
… By His grace, He had also sought to keep away from sins and transgressions.

Then the vote was taken.

The result declared that it was not the thief or the cheater or the blasphemer or the murderer…
… but the man who had followed Christ, all his days.

The one who had sought to remain faithful to God all his life, was considered as the Greatest Monument of the Grace of God.

Well, this is just an imaginary legend.

But it also tells an important message:
Being Faithful to the Mercy of God, all the days of one’s life, is to be considered as belonging to a high degree of holiness and grace.

And Who else
but the Mother of God – Mamma Mary – deserves this title of being “the Greatest Monument of the Grace of God?!”

Today, we celebrate the Solemn Feast of the beginning of the faithful life of the Most Beautiful and Loved Creation of God: The Feast of the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother.

Sin is part of every human life.

St Paul testifies to this fact when he says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23)

By themselves, human beings are incapable of freeing themselves from sin.

Therefore…
… Everyone needs a Saviour
… Everyone needs a Redeemer

But God, in His infinite wisdom had thought of the most excellent way of redeeming humanity.
>> Salvation was to be accomplished not through any magical power
>> Salvation was to be brought about not through some superhuman force

Rather, the salvation of humanity was to be won by a Human Himself – the most perfect Human.

>> This perfect Human deserved and required the most sinless of all wombs for being born
>> This perfect Human demanded and necessitated the most immaculate of all lives to be nurtured

Thus, God in His perfect wisdom, applied the Grace of Redemption and Salvation to the One He had chosen – Mary of Nazareth.

Therefore…
>> Mary is the first recipient of the Redemption of Christ!
>> Mary is the first fruit of the Salvation, won by Christ!

This is the story of the Immaculate Conception of Mother Mary.

The Holy Scripture testifies to this Immaculate nature of our Blessed Mother through the words of Angel Gabriel to Her, “Hail, FULL of Grace!” (Lk 1:28)

Thus, the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother points to Her sinlessness, Her being full of Grace, Her perfection in holiness and Her absolute adherence to the Will of God.

But, hey.. wait a moment….!

>> Are not all these things pointing to Mary simply being somebody “too-special” and almost like she being “supernatural”?
>> Are not all these things telling us that Mary was simply just “not like us” and we can never ever achieve or even aspire to be what She was?

Well… Undoubtedly, Mary lived a life that was “too-special” and a life that  was “supernatural” in holiness.

But we need to bring to our mind a very vital aspect….

Though the birth of being sinless, was a gift granted to Her…
… the fact of remaining sinless all through Her life, was Her choice!

Though the birth of being full of grace, was a gift bestowed on Her…
.. the fact of remaining always in the Grace of God, was Her choice!

Though the birth of being perfect in holiness, was a gift endowed on Her…
… the fact of remaining holy, was Her choice!

Though the birth of being absolutely adherent to the Will of God, was a gift approved to Her…
… the fact of remaining obedient to His Will, was Her choice!

Like any other human person, She too…
…  went through the crises of life
… faced humiliation and rejection in life
… had to face the rock of uncertainty and doubts of life

But, it was Her radical choice for God and Her absolute preference to the Will of God, that made Her to remain Immaculate all through Her Life.

“Yes, Lord… Thy Will be done” (Lk 1:38) was a chorus that She sang in all the moments of life!

Today, on this Feast day, this our Blessed Mother invites and exhorts us, also…
… to make a choice for God, always, and lead a sinless life
… to always opt for God alone, at all times, and being immaculate in life
… to unswervingly be faithful to God’s Will, and thus seek to be perfect in life

The challenge is great… the efforts required are radical.
But we are not left alone in this “pursuit of holiness” (1 Cor 9:24)

Our Blessed Mamma – the Beautiful Lady in blue and white – grace in holiness and immaculate in love – holds our hands and tells us:
“My Little Child, I am with you!
I love you, and together, we shall walk in this exciting path of Holiness…
… towards My Son and Your Brother…
… towards Our Saviour Jesus!”

Yes, may we give heed to the loving call of our Blessed Mother – the Greatest Monument of the Grace of God – and be fervent and zealous to lead a holier life, pleasing to God!

Happy Feast of our Immaculate Mamma!

God Bless! Live Jesus!