<p> Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (2017)</p><p>One of the first prayers that we learned as children was the “Hail Mary.” It is a prayer to the Blessed Mother and is based on the words that the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary when he announced that she had been chosen to be the mother of Jesus.</p><p>“ Hail Mary full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.”</p><p>These words offer much for us to reflect upon on this Feast of the Immaculate Conception.</p><p>The angel declared Mary to be full of grace. Grace is the free and unmerited favor and love of God. Mary was favored and loved by God in a very unique and particular way. God chose Mary to be the mother of his Son and prepared her for this singular privilege by preserving her from original sin at the very moment of HER conception within the womb of her mother.</p><p>This great gift of God to Mary prepared her to feely and wholeheartedly accept the vocation to be the mother of God. Preserved from the corruption of sin, Mary was able to respond to God’s invitation with unconditional love and obedience.</p><p>Her YES was made possible by the gift of God’s grace and favor. The Lord was with Mary and Mary’s YES to God made it possible for the Lord to be one with us through his birth as a human person.</p><p>Each of us has received the gift of grace. God has favored us, just as he favored Mary. God, through his Son, has saved us. He has forgiven our sins and has filled us with divine life and divine love. God has sent the Holy Spirit to dwell with us and within us. </p><p>It is God’s divine presence with us and within us that assists us in responding with love and obedience to God’s invitation to be His sons and daughters, Like Mary, we are full of grace and the Lord is with us. The more we turn away from sin, the more free and the more capable we are to respond to God wholeheartedly and unconditionally just as Mary did.</p><p>Mary is our model for saying YES to God each day to whatever God asks of us. Mary trusted in God and in God’s promises to her. We, also, are called to trust that God is with us and that God will assist us in accomplishing what he asks of us.</p><p>When Mary was asked to be the mother of Jesus, she experienced fear and doubt. That is why the angel Gabriel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”</p><p>We often feel afraid or have doubts about our ability to undertake what God asks of us. But God has favored us and has given us grace. The more filled with grace we are, the more easily we can say YES to God and trust in Him totally and unconditionally like Mary</p><p>God promises to be with us always and to give us all that we need to fulfill His divine will. Trusting in Him, we can declare with Mary: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.”</p><p>Fr. John Koziol, OFM Conv.</p>