Today we celebrate our belief that Mary, from the first moment of her being conceived, was totally free from any stain of sin. Her Son, Jesus, of course, though like us in every respect in His humanity, was also totally free from any taint of sin. It is unthinkable that the Second Person of the Trinity could have begun His human sojourn among us in an environment even slightly tainted by sin.

The readings today make a dramatic contrast between our First Parents, who after their disobedience to God's command, find themselves immersed in guilt and shame. They represent the whole of the human race which in varying degrees but without exception comes under the influence of sin and all too often succumbs to temptations of all kinds.

Mary, on the other hand, is greeted by the angel as one "so highly favoured", or "full of grace" as we more usually express it.

What we celebrate today is the unique gift which God bestowed on Mary but we need to remember that - as the Gospel elsewhere indicates - Mary's greatness is not only in the privileges accorded to her but even more in her total commitment to the mission entrusted to her by God. She was indeed to the very end the 'servant girl' of the Lord.