In a former incarnation, I was a school principal. One of the first practical lessons I learned was that a whole lot of parents believe their children were immaculately conceived.
Q: What did that really mean?
A: Don’t ever correct or criticize a child of these parents—or there’ll be hell to pay!
In light of that lesson, today’s Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception provides an excellent memento mori: Reflecting upon the fact that “I will die,” this mystery wherein God created Mary in and from the beginning without the stain of original sin calls to mind a second fact: None of us was immaculately conceived. While God created each of us in and from the beginning like Mary without out sin, the simple fact is none of us was immaculately conceived; and, unlike Mary we are imperfect beings, prone to sin due to the effects of the stain of original sin we’ve inherited from Adam and Eve. This fact continues to exhibit itself in the way we conduct ourselves when we love ourselves more than we love both God and neighbor.
“Sleepy” Catholics don’t recall or contemplate the fact they weren’t immaculately conceived. Instead, they proceed merrily through each day, week, month, year, and perhaps for decades living in a fantasy world where they conduct themselves as if they were immaculately conceived and everyone else wasn’t. What they see each day in the bathroom mirror is the equivalent of the Blessed Mother and what they see each day in everyone else is the equivalent of every possible biblical personification of evil...and then some. With their index finger, sleepy Catholics are quick to point out everyone else’s faults, overlooking the fact that the other three of their fingers are pointing directly back at them.
Worse yet, sleepy Catholics feel justified in pointing out all those faults and use them to justify judging and castigating if not condemning others as “sinners.” Sometimes, they go so far as to dismiss those sinners from their lives. To quote my Dad when he had had it with my imperfections, sleepy Catholics say or imply “Don’t let the door bang you in the [butt] on your way out the door!”
Because sleepy Catholics believe they were immaculately conceived, they don’t need forgiveness—for example, through the Sacrament of Penance. Yet, they expect everyone to come and beg them for forgiveness before allowing those to whom they’ve assigned a penance and absolved back into their presence. Moreover, should one of those sinners point out a spiritual or moral failure—a “sin”—sleepy Catholics take their cue from Eve and Adam, as we heard in today’s first reading: They blame someone or something else...the equivalent of thinking God would believe snakes can talk!
In contrast, “WOKE” Catholics take a moment at the end of each day to recall and contemplate the fact that they weren’t immaculately conceived—they know they’re imperfect creatures—and prone to sin, calling to mind that day’s moral and spiritual failures. This moral and spiritual exercise is called an “examination of conscience.” Similar to “sleepy” Catholics, “WOKE” Catholics exhibit the stain of original sin by loving themselves more than they love either God or neighbor. However, “WOKE” Catholics don’t obsess upon those failures. But, aware of them, they ask God for the grace of reparation—to “repair” those imperfections—so the next morning, as they commit themselves anew to overcome their sins, they can pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and strive yet once again to love both God and neighbor as they love themselves.
God willed that Mary be immaculately conceived so that she would be the perfect Mother of God’s only begotten Son, the Savior of the world who would teach humanity the pathway of life that leads to liberation from the stain of original sin. But, between “here” and “there” of today’s Solemnity and Christmas Day, Mary visited her kinswoman Elizabeth who at an advance age had also conceived a baby. But before running far and afield from the narrative of that visit, recall what occurred when Elizabeth first saw Mary upon entering the house: Everything within Elizabeth stirred with joy, including her unborn baby—both experiencing “Emmanuel” (“God’s essence is with us”). Elizabeth the welcomed Mary with open hands and arms, just as Mary welcomed Elizabeth with open hands and arms, both expectant mothers shedding tears of joy overflowing from their hearts! God’s essence was with them!
Because “WOKE” Catholics are aware of their imperfections and commit to repair their hurt they’ve caused, they know the pathway of life they must walk—the one leading to liberation from the stain of original sin, as Jesus taught it through the example of his life, death, and resurrection. For us, this requires no longer pointing out others’ moral and spiritual failures but opening our hands and arms in welcome to those who have trespassed against us, stirring into new life Emmanuel and bringing the Light into the darkness that fills both parties with joy that spills over in tears from their hearts.
The mystery of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a beautiful mystery to recall and contemplate. It reminds us of what St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians:
In him we were also chosen,destined in accord with the purpose of the One whoaccomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,we who first hoped in Christ.
When you and I grasp what that really means deep down in our hearts, we will awaken from our sleepiness. Then, as WOKE Catholics, we will be able to pray as Mary prayed in today’s gospel:
May it be done to me according to your word.
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