Homily for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, 2019

Introduction

One of the finest features of this chapel is the large, stained glass window of the Immaculate Conception in the choir loft. I must admit, it is one of my favorite features.

At certain times of the year, the window is clouded in complete darkness as we begin Morning Prayer. As the minutes tick by and we move into Mass the rising sun from the East inches its way above the horizon and the first rays of dawn hit the multi-colored glass. Throughout Mass, the sun slowly reveals the figure of the Immaculate Conception until the entire window is filled with brilliant light that cascades into the nave and sanctuary of the chapel.

Darkness to light

The first noticeable aspect of the window is the movement from darkness to light. God begins His work of salvation – the movement of darkness to light – in Mary.

Our feast today speaks of a special privilege that illustrates the movement from the darkness of Original Sin to the light of salvation.

With the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, the Church confesses what she has believed from the beginning: Our Lady was “from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.”[1]

One of the bishops invited by Pope Pius IX to the declaration of the Immaculate Conception in 1854 was St. John Neumann. Neumann wrote to his father in Bohemia that he was coming over to Europe for the declaration and his father wrote back: “Why do they have to bring American bishops to Rome to tell us that the most holy Virgin was conceived without sin when we have always believed it here?”

In her, the rays of the Son of God first dispel the darkness of sin.

We heard in the first reading from the Book of Genesis that immediately after the fall of Adam and Eve, God declared to the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your offspring and hers; he will strike at your head, while you strike at his heel” (Gen 3:15).

At that moment of darkness, which covered all of humanity because of the pride of Adam and Eve, God does not abandon us. He promises a coming light – a Savior who will strike at Satan’s head. God gives hope to humanity by promising that the light will come through a woman – a Savior will be born of her – and she will be at enmity with the serpent.

In her, we see the divine work of darkness to light.

Full of light - Mary

The second things you notice about the stained glass window is that as the light enters, the figure of Mary becomes clear. God becoming flesh gives meaning to Mary’s whole life.

It is only by way of the light that she becomes illuminated. She cannot be known without the light. She only becomes clear because of the light. She can only fulfill her mission by allowing the light to pass through her.

In our Gospel the Archangel Gabriel reveals the God-given name of Mary. He calls her “full of grace,” kecharitoméne in Greek. The word is difficult to translate and certainly “highly-favored one” doesn’t do it justice. It is the only instance in Scripture in which the name is ever used. The best translation I have seen is “one who has been abundantly the object of grace.” “Kecharitoméne:” It is a unique name, a unique title, for a unique being in the economy of salvation.

Mary can only be truly seen and understood in the light of grace. On her own, she is nothing. She is simply a “handmaid.” She is “greatly troubled” by Gabriel’s greeting because she sees herself as nothing. But grace has enlightened her. Her very figure, her very being, comes to light because the morning sun, the “Son of the Most High,” has become flesh in her womb.

This is her vocation – her reason for being – and it is only known when the light of the world arrives.

In preparation for the light of divine grace to dispel the darkness of sin, God prepared her from the beginning of her existence. He prepared each colored glass, placed them in perfect position, giving her the privilege of being “endowed with the rich fullness of your grace,” as the Preface of today’s Mass professes.

It is grace that gives Mary her vocation and her very name.

Shining on the greatest light - Christ

Finally, the light of day illuminates the figure of Mary and enters the chapel ultimately to shine on the altar. Mary’s whole life is to shine on Christ.

St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Ephesians that God the Father “has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.” The great privilege of the Immaculate Conception has one purpose. It is not about Mary. It is about Jesus. It is to prepare “a worthy dwelling for your Son,” as the Collect says.

Mary’s whole existence gives way to Christ. She, like to moon, keeps no light for herself but reflects the sun to others. She exists for the praise of Christ’s glory. She gives her “fiat” so that the flow of Christ’s life will shine in this world and illuminate our darkness. Her life is not her own. It is literally Christ living in her.

Throughout her life, Mary will renew her mission to shine on Christ. At the Magi’s visit, she uncovers her Son wrapped in swaddling clothes. She tells the servants at Cana to do “whatever he tells you.” As she stood weeping on Calvary, her tears point toward the salvific suffering of Christ.

The humble transparency of Our Lady constantly points to Our Lord for her whole life shines on Him.

Conclusion

In my position as celebrant or concelebrant in the sanctuary, I can easily see the beautiful stained glass window of the Immaculate Conception during Mass. Unfortunately, most of you cannot. However, this only seems just because the faithful are in a Marian position at Mass. Just as she allows Divine grace to flow through her and directs her gaze toward Him, so too our whole life must do the same.

The angel departs from Our Lady’s presence in today’s Gospel because his mission is over. He asked the virgin’s consent to be the perfect stained glass window for the Son to enter the world. She said “yes” and Christ became flesh. We now ask her to intercede for us. We, unlike her, are not without blemish, but it is still God’s will that we say “yes” to Him and be a stained glass window of grace.

“O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”

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[1] CCC, 491