Today is the feast day of Mary the Immaculate Conception. This celebration is not just about Mary but all of creation. The teaching of the Immaculate conception says that Mary was born without original sin. This does not mean that Mary in her life time could not sin, but rather, chose not to. This provides all of us hope against a theology that says that all of creation has fallen and that humanity is depraved. Rather, creation has the divine spark of grace in the beginning and this is seen in Mary.
We ourselves can place Mary on a pedestal. Like a super hero or Marvel Character, like Thor or a Greek God of power like Zeus. But, this is not God’s way. God enters the world through an unmarried teenager, and from the outside it would seem by others, in a great deal of sin. In first century Jewish culture Mary could be stoned to death by being pregnant outside of marriage. Mary herself would have to live with the social and cultural effects of this sin. Thus, she knew what it means to suffer and the effects of the stigma of sin. It is through humility of those around her like Joseph, Anne and Joachim which allowed God’s grace and wonder to be born. Humility accepts things even when we do not understand them.
Mary is sometimes pictured standing on a serpent. The serpent which Adam allowed to enter the Garden. Adam was meant to be the protector to care and till the garden. He failed. Yet, this failure enabled a deeper truth to emerge. In the darkness and when all seems lost that God appears. Mary reflects the divine creation in her humanity. She is fully human. She says yes, not just because an angel asked her. She says yes because deep deep down she wishes to search for God. God in everything. God even in the fabric of sin. Or what we think is sin.
Mary is the bearer of hope. We may not have Mary’s DNA, but she has called us to follow her. To follow her inspiration in searching for God. Even in darkness. We are called to bear the Christ Child. Not through part of us, but through our entire lives. God wants everything. The good and the bad. God transforms even darkness. Everything can give glory of God.
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