Immaculate Conception

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

_{Genesis 3:9-15,20; Psalm 98; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38}

Eve, the mother of all the living. Sarah, who laughed at bearing a child in her old age became mother of the Jewish people. Hannah, strongly sang the praises of God at the birth of her son, the prophet Samuel. Elizabeth, bore the Baptist leaping and dancing in her womb. Rebecca, favoured her second-born son, Jacob. Naomi, after the death of her husband and sons faithfully walked through life with her daughter-in-law Ruth. Rachel and Leah, the mothers of the twelve tribes of Israel. Hagar, reviled and rejected, became the mother of the Semitic/Arab peoples.

In the shadows is Anne. She does not appear in the scriptures with the other mothers. Yet she stands in the great line of women who conceived and gave birth so that God’s salvation might be fulfilled.

Anne, the wife of Joachim. Anne, the mother of Mary. Anne, the grandmother of Jesus.

It is Anne’s conception of Mary that we mark today. As with all pregnancies, she and her husband Joachim must have greeted the beginning of this new life with hope and joy – a blessing from God. They named their daughter Miriam, after Moses’ sister. Miriam led Israel in a great song of victory after God led them through the Red Sea to freedom. Mary continues to lead us in her great song, “My whole being magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour!”

They were all women who trusted in God. Strong women who sparred with God and faced personal obstacles to do God’s will and bring forth new life.

All conceptions are new beginnings. All conceptions are acts of hope. In confusing and fearful times such as ours, all conceptions are acts of faith.

The conception of the Virgin Mary is without sin because it was seeded deeply in faith and hope.

Saint Anne, pray for us and for all women.