As we grow and as we grow older, we know more and more about life, faith, personal relationships, and about ourselves. As we age, we build up a wealth of knowledge that comes from life's experiences and becomes our personal fund of wisdom.
What we don't have as we grow older and wiser is the thrill of beginning: the enthusiasm of youth, of beginning a new relationship, a new vocation, a new career.
A few years ago, a parish in Iowa was celebrating its 150th anniversary. While the people were milling about, Megan, who was about 12, carried her baby sister Anika over to the priest. The priest said, "What a beautiful child!" Megan said, "Yeah, Father, but she has a temper." Megan was speaking out of her wisdom. She was learning something we all know: There is a difference between how things look and how they really are.
Today we celebrate Mary’s Immaculate Conception, the first completely holy person. The Greek Fathers say “Panagia,” "the All-Holy" when referring to Mary. Mary's Immaculate Conception is not something we can verify like we can so many other facts; we know this only by faith. Faith is more like wisdom; it is not based on appearances. Faith tells us that no matter how sin abounds in our world, grace super-abounds. Mary’s life is the first occasion of this super-abundance of grace.
Our scientific knowledge can tell us human life began so many thousands or hundreds of thousands of years ago. Our faith tells us that at the beginning God infused His Spirit into that life: His Image right from the moment of conception. Faith also tells us that at the second instance of life, there was a fracture: a sin. We pick up on that in today's first reading about Adam and Eve. This reading is chosen for today's feast day because right in the heart of sin is a promise of redemption.
By making this connection, the Church is teaching us that at the very beginning of sin there is a beginning of redemption. Mary is the firstborn of this redemption. Her life is a prophecy of what is hidden in all life.
Homily for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily for the Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours
Homily for the Memorial of St. Leo the Great
Homily for the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
Homily for Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time
Homily for Tuesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time
Homily for Monday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time
Homily for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily for the Memorial of St. Charles Borromeo
Homily for Friday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time
Homily for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day)
Homily for the Solemnity of All Saints
Homily for Tuesday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time
Homily for Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time
Homily for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily for the Feast of Sts. Simon and Jude, Apostles
Homily for Friday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time
Homily for Thursday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time
Homily for Wednesday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time
Homily for Tuesday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time
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