A Bone to Pick

Understanding who the Immaculate Conception is about

12/09/2024

Lk 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.

This is going to be a super-short sermon, so pay super-close attention. But I do have a bone to pick with the selection of Scripture readings for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. What do I mean? Well, this particular gospel passage is precisely the wrong one for the Immaculate Conception. Why? Well, because whose conception does it describe? It is all about the conception of Jesus in the womb of his mother, Mary.

But that is exactly what the Immaculate Conception is not about, even though 9 out of 10 Catholics you ask mistakenly think that is what the Immaculate Conception is. Wait. Wut? Now, get this, and get this good: the Immaculate Conception is not about the conception of Jesus in the womb of his mother, Mary. Rather, it is about the conception of Mary in the womb of her mother, St. Anne.

Nonetheless, I do not believe this passage from Luke 1: 26-38 is entirely misplaced or without merit. Why not? Well, because of the first words out of the Archangel Gabriel’s mouth when he greets the Blessed Virgin Mary. Do you remember them? Of course you do, because those are the words we borrow to pray the Hail Mary. That is, we say like Gabriel: “Hail Mary, full of grace…”

Now, those three innocent little words, “full of grace” – the way you say that in Greek is kecharitomene – could not be theologically more important or supernaturally more significant. Why not? Well, when did Mary start to be “full of grace”? Did she receive an Amazon Prime delivery one Christmas with a package that was of “full of grace”? No.

Did she feel full of grace when she turned 7 years old and embarked on the so-called “age of reason”? No. Was Mary suddenly “full of grace” when she was presented in the Temple by her parents Sts. Joachim and Anne at the age of 3? Nope, not then either. Maybe she became “full of grace” on the day that she was born? Nope.

Mary was “full of grace” – kecharitomene – at the very first instance of her existence, that is, when she was conceived in the womb of her mother, St. Anne. In other words, the Archangel Gabriel was not making Mary “full of grace” when he greeted her. He was acknowledging the fact that she was already and the only one jam-packed with grace from her conception until her bodily assumption.

And perhaps just as amazing is that she never lost a grain of that grace by committing any actual sins. Mother Mary was “full of grace” for every second she lived on earth, and today she is “full of glory” every second she lives in eternity. So, let’s recap the lesson we learned today. Is the Immaculate Conception about the conception of Jesus? No. Is the Immaculate Conception about the conception of Mary? Yes.

And what does it mean to be “immaculately conceived”? It means you are sinless, or to put it positively, you are kecharitomene, “full of grace.” You and I, on the other hand, are NOT immaculately conceived – even though some of us may think we are sinless and perfect. Still, even though we cannot share Mary’s fullness of grace here on earth, maybe we can share some of her fullness of glory one day in eternity. Today, we ask for her powerful prayers – prayers full of grace – so we can be a little more full of Jesus’ grace like her.

Praised be Jesus Christ!