For many people, the feast of the Immaculate Conception is as confusing as is the familiar statue that honors Mary under that title.
One reason is that the Gospel reading recounts the conception of Jesus, not that of Mary. As for the statue, today’s passage from Genesis clearly states that it is the offspring of the woman, not the woman herself, whose heel will strike the head of the ancient serpent.
The text says that the enmity is first between the woman, who is the “mother of all the living,” and the serpent, the symbol of evil, and then between their respective offspring.
Just what significance might this feast hold for contemporary Christians?
The readings give us directions. The first reading is a report of human sinfulness. As bleak as this might sound, a ray of hope also appears here.
The Gospel assures us that the stalemate has been broken. God is prepared to send a child who “will be called holy, the Son of God.” His name will be Jesus, a Hebrew name that means “savior.”
We all wait to hear what Mary will say.
“And Mary said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord, be done to me according to your word” Luke
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”
