A Homily on Luke 1:26 – 38 : Feast of the Immaculate Conception (8-12-25)

A reflection on Luke 1:26 – 38, inviting us to imitate Mary’s purity and her Yes to God. (8-12-25)

Praise be to Jesus Christ 

In a quiet monastery on a small hill, an old monk lived a simple and prayerful life. Near his cell, he kept a beautiful white dove. Everyone in the monastery admired this bird because its feathers were always clean and bright, even though the courtyard outside was full of dust. One day, a young novice asked the monk, Father, how this dove stays so white in this dusty place. The monk smiled and said, Watch carefully. As they looked, a small speck of dust fell on the dove. At once, the bird fluttered its wings and shook it off. The monk said, Purity is not only a gift, but it is also a choice. The dove remains white because it never allows anything to cling to it.

This small story opens our hearts to understand today’s feast. In the first reading from Genesis we see how Adam and Eve allowed the dust of temptation to settle on their hearts. They hid from God. Their no brought fear, shame and confusion into the world. But God did not give up. He promised that one day a woman would come and her child would crush the serpent. The early Fathers of the Church saw this clearly. They said Eve brought disobedience and death, but Mary brought obedience and life. Eve closed the door, and Mary opened it again.

In the Gospel we hear the angel greet Mary with the words, Hail full of grace. The angel did not say she will become full of grace. He said she already is. From the first moment of her life God kept her free from every stain of sin. This is the mystery we celebrate today, the Immaculate Conception. God prepared her like a pure vessel so that when the moment came she could say her great Yes, Let it be done to me according to your word.

But Mary’s greatness is not only that she was conceived without sin. She also lived without sin. Her purity was a gift, but her sinless life was her choice. Like the dove in the monastery she guarded her heart with great care. She prayed, She listened, She avoided everything that could take her away from God. Her Yes was not only on one day, but it was a Yes she repeated every morning of her life.

Today this feast invites us to look at our own hearts. At baptism God washed away every stain from our souls. We began just as pure. But we fall again and again as temptation comes quietly:  a small lie, jealousy, anger, impurity, laziness, gossip. Before we realize it, our heart becomes heavy again. We go for confession and God cleans us once more. Nevertheless, even before we reach home, some fall into the same sin again. This is why the feast of Immaculate Conception is important. It reminds us to be careful with our soul at every moment of our lives.

Saint Francis of Assisi once said, Even if my body breaks, I will not allow any damage to my soul. That is the determination we need today. Temptation will come to everyone. But like the white dove we must learn to shake off the dust the moment it touches us. We must keep watch over our eyes, our words, our thoughts and our habits. Only then can God’s plan be fulfilled in us.

Mary shows us not only who she is, but who we can become. God wants to do great things through us too. But He needs hearts that are clean, open and ready. Hearts that can say Yes like Mary.

Lord Jesus, help me to lead a sin less life. Amen