“Grace strikes us when we are in great pain and restlessness. It strikes us when we walk through the dark valley of a meaningless and empty life. It strikes us when our disgust for our own being, our indifference, our weakness, our hostility, and our lack of direction and composure have become intolerable to us. It strikes us when, year after year, the longed-for perfection of life does not appear, when the old compulsions reign within us as they have for decades, when despair destroys all joy and courage. Sometimes at that moment a wave of light breaks into our darkness, and it is as though a voice were saying: ‘You are accepted.’” (Paul Tillich - German-American philosopher and theologian - 1886-1965).
This quote from Paul Tillich points for the need for God’s grace in our lives. God grace meets us in the reality of our lives. His grace is there in his sufferings and in our challenges. It is there in the joyful happy moments in our life as well. God’s grace is there for us. God grace accompanies us on our journey. But, sometimes we fail to recognize the presence of his grace.
How is it that God’s grace can interact in our lives in such a personal intimate way? God came into our world, incarnate in that little baby born in the humble manger in Bethlehem, whose mother was the young woman Mary. God incarnate in the world of Ancient Israel shared in our human nature in all things but sin. God born of an earthly mother was part of his plan of salvation. God who understands our lives intimately as human beings knows can also send us grace to help us on our journey.
We celebrate Mary’s immaculate conception today in this great solemnity that always falls within the Advent season. Mary, conceived in the womb of her mother, St Anne, was part of God’s plan. From the time of Mary’s conception, this plan was set into motion. Yet, Mary was free to consent to this plan, as it was not something that came about by force or coercion. So, even though we might think that Mary’s reality is far from our everyday reality, in truth, Mary is very close to us. Mary grew up in a place and in time with a lot of uncertainty. She accepted responsibility at a very young age and fled to Egypt with her husband Joseph and with a little baby, ultimately returning to the small town of Nazareth. Mary knew poverty and desperate circumstances. She knew pain and suffering. She experienced the passion and death of her son. She pondered those difficult moments in her life in the recesses of her heart.
As we celebrate the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception today, let us pray that our hearts may grow like Mary’s heart in trust of God. Today, may we offer thanks to God the Father for the gift of Mary our mother. Through Mary’s loving intercession, may we grow stronger in our faith and in our trust of God. And as we journey through these days of the Advent season, as we are aware of God’s grace in the life of Mary and in his plan of salvation, let us be aware of God’s grace in our own lives.
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