Homily
for December 8, 2017.
“In the sixth month the angel Gabriel
was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to
a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was
Mary. And he came to her and said, “Hail, full of Grace, the Lord is with you!”
Luke 1:26-28.
Today we celebrate the immaculate
conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. By Immaculate Conception, we refer to
the fact that when Mary was born to her parents, Joachim and Anne, she did not
have any sin in her; that is, she was born free from the stain of original sin.
When we look at Mary, we see what God
is capable of doing with us human beings. Mary helps us understand our true
potentials. Mary is what she is simply because of the abundance of GRACE upon
her. For instance, are you struggling with sin? Mary was sinless all through
her life. How? She was full of God’s Grace (God’s help). Why not ask for just a
little of this Grace? Like Mary, you would be surprised sin would be a thing of
the past.
Mary is not a god, by herself she is
just a weak creature like any of us but because God decided to fill her with
His Grace, because God decided to honour her by choosing her to be his mother,
Mary is who she is today. The honour we give to Mary began with the Angel
Gabriel’s greeting to Mary which is recorded in the Bible. Luke 1:28. If an
Angel will greet Mary as “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you,” who are
we not to honour Mary?
On the other hand, by pushing Mary aside,
we do not give God honour. I don’t think I would be happy if I am being given
an award at an occasion and upon stepping down from the podium, the M.C. begins
to make unkind remarks about my own mother. No way! If we accept the fact that Jesus
Christ is God and Mary actually carried Jesus Christ in her womb for nine
months, then we cannot afford to ignore Mary.
In his homily at the Grand Finale of
the 3rd National Marian Congress and re-consecration of Nigeria to
the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Most Rev. Obinna Okeke, the archbishop of
Onitsha, gave us ten reasons why he loves Mary and reflecting on these ten
reasons should make us love Mary as well.
1. GOD CAME TO US THROUGH MARY; We go
to God through Mary.
2. MARY IS AN EPIPHANY, the
manifestation of God who is Spirit and invisible (Gal. 4:4).
3. MARY IS FULL OF GRACE (Luke 1:28);
She obtains grace for us. Without God's grace, we can do nothing (John 15:5).
4. MARY EFFECTIVELY INTERCEDES FOR
US; Mary's intersession is powerful (John 2:1-11).
5. MARY SEARCHES FOR AND FINDS HER
LOST CHILD (Luke 2:46). If you are truly Mary's child, Mary searches for you.
You may NEVER be lost.
6. MARY HAS SPECIAL 'CONNECTION '
WITH THE BLESSED TRINITY; She is a special Daughter of God, Mother of God and
beloved spouse of the Holy Spirit. In Nigeria, we know the importance of
"knowing someone who knows someone who knows someone...."
7. MARY IS MOTHER AND QUEEN OF PEACE
because She gave birth to the Prince of peace who is Peace Himself.
8. MARY LOVES THE SCRIPTURES; She
lives and leverages on the Scriptures.
9. SHE IS THE MOTHER OF MERCY; Her
Son is a true revelation of God's mercy.
10. SHE IS A WOMAN OF GRATITUDE. The
more she received grace, the more she gave thanks; the more she gave thanks,
the more her favour increased. Gratitude increases miracles.
In Mary we
see the wonders of God. In Mary, our Faith in God is always boosted. In Mary
who as a virgin gave birth to Jesus Christ, we see that with God all things are
possible. If God can make a virgin pregnant, is there anything too great for
God to do?
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, increase my faith in you daily. Amen.
Oh Mary,
conceived without sin; Pray for us who have recourse to you. Amen
*Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Solemnity of
the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Bible Study: Genesis 3:9-20,
Ephesians 1:3-12 and Luke 1:26-38).*
Fr. Abu.
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