9 Dec 2019
A Radical Yes
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For 9 December 2019, The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, based on Luke 1:26–38
 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.†But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.†Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?†The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.†Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.†Then the angel departed from her.
Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
10 December 2019 @ 3:12 am
Dear Ann,
Thank you so much for this deep and thoughtful reflection
on Mary’s invitation and mine as well. We are so blessed!
Lovingly in Mary,
Sr. Brigid
10 December 2019 @ 3:47 am
A wonderful explanation for the feast day. An imaginative reading too, you made it come alive. You suggested closing our eyes as you spoke,I did that and was moved by Mary’s “Yesâ€.
18 December 2019 @ 11:30 am
I am sorry but this was one of the most “pie in the sky”, irrelevant homily I have heard in a long time. What was the central preaching point? Where was there any evidence of academic exegesis or scholarship? Sorry for my honesty!