Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, December 8, 2025

Gospel

Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God

to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,

to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,

of the house of David,

and the virgin's name was Mary.

And coming to her, he said,

"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."

But she was greatly troubled at what was said

and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

Then the angel said to her,

"Do not be afraid, Mary,

for you have found favor with God.

Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,

and you shall name him Jesus.

He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,

and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,

and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,

and of his Kingdom there will be no end."

But Mary said to the angel,

"How can this be,

since I have no relations with a man?"

And the angel said to her in reply,

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,

and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

Therefore the child to be born

will be called holy, the Son of God.

And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,

has also conceived a son in her old age,

and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;

for nothing will be impossible for God."

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.

May it be done to me according to your word."

Then the angel departed from her.

Reflection

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We celebrate the truth that Mary was conceived without original sin and remained free from its stain.

Angel Gabriel’s greeting in the Gospel reflects this truth, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you”. He doesn’t begin by saying her name instead, he addresses her as, “full of grace" revealing her identity as the one God has prepared for an extraordinary purpose. And yet even in this unique state of grace Mary’s humility shines through. She is “greatly troubled” by the angel’s words. This suggests she may have felt unworthy not because she lacked grace, but because she recognized the grace within her was a gift, something she received, entirely from God and not gained by her own merit. 

Her response to Gabriel is so simple and yet so moving… “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word”. Even in her confusion or possible fear of the unknown, she senses the weight of what God is asking of her, and she responds with such faith. In that moment, Mary shows us what perfect discipleship looks like. Not the absence of fear, but the courage to trust God amidst the uncertainty. She teaches us that holiness is not about our achievements but our willingness to surrender and say yes to God. Today let us contemplate this great mystery of the Catholic Church, the Immaculate Conception and subsequently Mary’s yes to God and all it entailed.