Reflection on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Where are you?  I was afraid.  God chose us in Christ.  In love God destined us for adoption through Jesus.

Hail Mary, full of Grace;  do not be afraid;  the Holy Spirit will come upon you;  nothing is impossible with God.

These words from the readings are about being chosen in love, being called, being afraid and perplexed, trusting the Spirit.  These words may describe what it was and is like to be Friends of Mary who stood faithfully at the foot of the cross.

Mary was called.  As Joyce Rupp reminds us, ”When the divine visitor tapped on her heart she was at first hesitant. Full of questions and concerns, she paused for clarity before she opened the door.  But she did not let her hesitations keep her from extending a welcome to love.  With her, ”Yes, you may come in,” Mary created a hospitable space within herself.  She leaned on her faith for support as she opened the door wide to the Spirit; Jesus entered this world through the door of her welcoming womb.”

Mary was in no need of divine intervention. This is not a historical event.  God is partnering with Mary to help each of us to answer when the Holy One taps on the door of our life asking for an entrance.  Her “Yes” continues in us today.  God reminds her and us “nothing will be impossible with God.”

We are continually called.  Today we “re-call” our vows and commitments and “re-view” their meaning for our lives today.  This “re-view” of our commitments makes Mordecai’s question to Esther, “perhaps you have come for such a time as this” more poignant, personal and radical. 

This Mass and these readings come in the midst of Advent. We are asked to be still.  To wait. The psalm says, “Sing a New Song.” We have hope as we sing and as we wait; hope in a new year, a new government, a new vaccine, stronger, multiplied outcries for justice and equality.

We are called to respond to today’s tears and cries for change and for action.  We know now that all the issues are connected:  migration connected to racism connected to climate.  A pandemic affecting all species, the entire planet.

Our lives are in each other’s hands.  We are responding, and it isn’t easy whether isolating in a room in the Infirmary, knitting for immigrants, holding a banner at a street corner, writing other citizens and legislators, delivering food or serving at the U.N. We live in a divided country in need of deep listening and healing. What have we learned? With whom do we need to listen and speak? When we can’t reach out with our hands we are reaching out with our hearts, our prayer and even our blessed technology.

As Elaine Prevallet states in “A Path to the Divine in Human Life: The Role of Chakras in Religious Dedication,” “Many people, mostly unknown to one another, have felt in this new consciousness what they experience as “a Call,” something that draws them in a way they cannot deny, that gives meaning and purpose to their lives. Such persons feel a deep need, a deep surge of energy to participate in midwifing a new consciousness in human beings on planet earth.”

We in Loretto know these persons now, and we have been influenced by the Loretto Community members who have come before us — name their names in your mind and hearts.  Draw from their wisdom.  We miss them. 

 Mary now visits Elizabeth. While we are not able to visit, day by day and week by week we lean now on each other as we walk each other home.

Like Mary, the answer is still “Yes.”

We will now re-state that “Yes” through our vows and commitments in Loretto.