蜜桃交友

By Pope

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary 鈥� 鈥渃elebrating the singular grace and privilege granted by God鈥� by which the Mother of God 鈥渨as preserved free from all stain of original sin鈥� from the first moment of her conception 鈥� was the focus of Pope Francis鈥� reflections at the Angelus on the Second Sunday of Advent.

This feast, he said, is found in Advent, a time of waiting and expectation; but in the case of Mary, he explained, God鈥檚 will has already been done, as Mary was preserved 鈥渇rom the contamination of evil that is the common legacy of the human family.鈥�

Trust in God鈥檚 will

Turning to the Gospel, which recounts the story of the Annunciation, Pope Francis said that God thought of Mary and wanted her 鈥渇rom the beginning鈥�. But, he said, in order to be 鈥渇ull of grace鈥�, to be filled with God鈥檚 love, it is necessary to listen to God鈥檚 Word and trust totally in His will, as Mary did.

Mary, the Pope said 鈥渄oes not lose herself in logical arguments, she does not place obstacles in the Lord鈥檚 way, but she promptly entrusts herself and leaves room for the action of the Holy Spirit鈥�. Corresponding perfectly to God鈥檚 plan for her, 鈥淢ary becomes 鈥榓ll beautiful鈥�, 鈥榓ll holy鈥�, but without the slightest shadow of self-satisfaction鈥�. That is, she remains 鈥渉umble, small, poor鈥�.

An attitude of service

Pope Francis then emphasized 鈥渢he word with which Mary defines herself in her surrender to God鈥�. 鈥淢ary鈥檚 鈥榶es鈥� to God鈥�, the Pope said, assumes from the beginning the attitude of service, of attention to the needs of others鈥�, as seen in Mary鈥檚 visit to Elizabeth. 鈥淥penness to God is found in the openness to take on the needs of one's neighbor鈥�. Moreover, he emphasized, this is done without 鈥渘oise or ostentation鈥� because charity and works of mercy do not need to be exhibited as a trophy鈥�.

Making our whole life a 鈥榶es鈥� to God

Pope Francis concluded his reflection with the prayer that the feast of the Immaculate Conception might 鈥渉elp us to make our whole life a 鈥榶es鈥� to God, a 鈥榶es鈥� made of adoration of Him and of daily gestures of love and service鈥�.