Homily: December 9, 2024, Solemnity of immaculate conception of Blessed Virgin Mary (Holy Family School Mass)

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 “As he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him."

We heard this phrase in today’s second reading. It is such a wonderful affirmation for us! God planned for us to belong to Him even before the world began. Imagine that!

Billions of years before today, God already had you in mind, your existence was in His plan. You did not exist by chance, you were not an accident and definitely not a mistake. You are God’s dream, God’s desire, God’s wish, God’s plan. Isn’t that amazing?

Today, we celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Just as God knew us before the foundation of the world, He also knew the Blessed Virgin Mary before she was born. He chose her for a special mission, to be the mother of His Son from the very beginning. This is truly wonderful!

But what does "Immaculate Conception" mean?

‘Conception’ refers to the moment when a new life is conceived in the womb, the moment a human life begins and keeps growing in the womb until ready to be born. 

‘Immaculate’ means spotless, clean, pure. For example, if a shirt is immaculate, it means it is perfect, without any stain or wrinkle. When we use this term on people, it means they are holy, pure, and without sin.

God chose Mary before the foundation of the world to be holy and without sin. To prepare her for her unique mission — to be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God, the Saviour of the world. So from the very beginning of her life, God poured out special graces onto her soul, thus she is ‘full of grace’, as how Angel Gabriel addressed her.

From the moment of her conception, Mary was preserved from all the effects of original sin. She was born immaculate so that she could bear in her womb the Most Holy Son of God.

Today, when we praise Mary, our Blessed Mother, we are praising God. As we love and honor her, we are thanking God for His wonderful plan for to save our souls, through Mary’s grace-filled life and mission. She brought Jesus to the world, and leads us back to Jesus.

No one loves Mother Mary better than Jesus does. So let us turn to our Mother always, confident that she will hear us, help us and intercede for us. Every day, let us pray with love and trust:

“Mary, conceived without original sin, pray for us who have recourse to you. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”


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