At that time: The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!’ But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’
And Mary said to the angel, ‘How will this be, since I am a virgin?’ And the angel answered her, ‘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, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’ And Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.’ And the angel departed from her.
Today we celebrate the Immaculate Conception of Mary. I can’t resist reflecting on this moment that took place in complete secrecy. Only God, and perhaps the angels, knew of this event. The first immaculate zygote, the first seed of holiness in the universe after the Fall, would lead to the greatest revolution in history: the Redemption. So small, yet so powerful.
This is the nature of the Kingdom of Heaven—a tiny seed that grows to become vast enough to hold God Himself.
Applied to Married Life:
Patrick: Rachel, don’t worry. I know you deeply desire for us to experience true communion in our marriage, but that’s something only God can achieve. And He works silently, little by little. At first, it’s almost imperceptible, but then it becomes immense.
Rachel: Thank you, Patrick. I know. I know our marriage is going to be something amazing because God is great. I just need to be patient with you, just as God is patient with me.
Mother,
Love is patient. It’s the first rule in St. Paul’s letter. I won’t forget it. Praise be to God.