Homily of the Bishop for the solemnity of Immaculate Conception.

Immaculate Conception (2023)

On the path of Advent towards Christmas, today's solemnity, the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary, represents a turning point. In view of the Birth of the Lord, the liturgy invites us to look to the Mother of God. Mary brought us Jesus. The Mother of God always leads us to Jesus and intercedes for us, so that by imitating her, we too can carry Jesus in our hearts, in our families and bring Him to others through the testimony of our life.

First, let's remember what the immaculate conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary means: as today's liturgy reminds us, Mary was conceived without original sin, wholly pure and without stain, while we are all born marked by original sin, which pushes us to carry out what is bad. Our nature is wounded by evil. Many times, we do evil we don't want, and we fail to do good that we desire. Above all, sin in us manifests itself as a closure towards others, towards God, the unavailability to do his will. If we look at the situation in the world with so many wars and conflicts, we understand that humanity is wounded by sin.

Mary is immaculate. God preserved her from original sin: As we prayed at the beginning of the Mass: "You, oh God, preserved her from every stain by virtue of the Death of your Son, which you foresaw". Therefore, Mary is the first redeemed to be the Mother of God.

How can we see that Mary was conceived without original sin? From her obedience to the will of God. The Gospel shows it to us clearly when Mary, faced with the words of the Angel Gabriel, firmly declares: 'I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me.’ This availability remains throughout Mary's life until she reaches the foot of the cross and welcomes her son's last words. Mary always holds the word of the Lord in her heart.
  
At the same time, since Mary has no stain of sin, she shows us the true face of the human creature. In fact, sin wounds human reality. Grace instead heals it and brings it to completion. Thus, Mary, full of grace, makes us see the true vocation of every man and every woman: the vocation to holiness, as Saint Paul reminds us in his letter: Before the world was made, he chose us, chose us in Christ, to be holy and spotless, and to live through love in his presence, determined to make us his adopted children, through Jesus Christ.

Before time, before the creation of the world, God chose us to be saints. In holiness there is beauty, love, harmony, and joy.

Therefore, although we are not immaculate but sinners, we are called to the fullness of love through the grace of God. We are on the way. By looking at Mary and asking for her intercession, we, too, can learn to walk towards the fullness of life. Like Mary, we know to listen to the Word of God, hold it in our hearts, and welcome the action of the Holy Spirit. Let us trust in God and welcome the will of God with joy, in whom is our peace.

Brothers and sisters, let us pray to Our Lady every day. Let us pray to her with the precious prayer of the rosary. Many times, I see you, dear faithful, in front of the image of the Mary or front of the statue of the Mary at the Grotto near our Churches, gathered in prayer. You bring your worries and desires to Our Lady. Mary Listens and intercedes for us. 

Let us intensify our prayer to the Mother of God, the Immaculate Virgin. May Mary help us purify ourselves from our sins, grow in love, and protect our families. Queen of Peace, intercede for peace in the world. Our Lady of Arabia, pray for us.