Today we celebrate the Immaculate Conception: through God's grace, Mary was conceived free from the stain of original sin in her mother's womb. This grace was given to Mary for her role as the mother of Jesus Christ.

The readings help us to understand Mary's role better. In Genesis, we see that Adam and Eve disobey God - original sin. This sin has consequences for generations to come: distance from God, pain, fear and conflict.

In contrast, when the angel appears to Mary, we see how she humbly surrenders to God's desire for her life: "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word" (Lk. 1:38). At that moment, Mary may not have understood everything God was asking her to do in life. However, being free from the effects of original sin, Mary trusts God deeply. In contrast to Eve, Mary believes that God's plan will truly lead to blessing.

This trust has consequences: Jesus is born. Jesus saves us from the deadly effects of sin; Jesus opens a way to the Father. Today we celebrate God preparing Mary. We celebrate Mary's cooperation with God's grace.