The Immaculate Conception of Mary

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Today is

Wednesday the 8 December, the feast of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady, in the second week of Advent.

Jonathan Veira sings ‘Thorns in the Straw:

‘And did she see there

In the straw by his head a thorn

And did she smell myrrh

In the air on that starry night’.

Today’s reading is from the book of Genesis. 

Genesis 3:9-15, 20

But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ He said, ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.’ He said, ‘Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?’ The man said, ‘The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate.’ Then the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this that you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent tricked me, and I ate.’ The Lord God said to the serpent,

‘Because you have done this,

   cursed are you among all animals

   and among all wild creatures;

upon your belly you shall go,

   and dust you shall eat

   all the days of your life.

I will put enmity between you and the woman,

   and between your offspring and hers;

he will strike your head,

   and you will strike his heel.’

The man named his wife Eve, because she was the mother of all who live.

What is your gut reaction to today’s passage?

  How do all those involved come across to you?

  The serpent…

  The man…

  The woman…

  God…

Could you place yourself in this uncomfortable, excruciating, scene?

  Would you stand up for anyone?

  Step in and explain?

  Do something to help out?

  Or maybe - understandably - just hide?

As you listen to the passage again, remember that someone did step in, did understand human weakness, did feel injustice deep down: Jesus, Himself, God’s own Son.

Is there a situation that is demanding my response, where God is asking me “where are you?” How do I want to respond?

  I ask for God’s help to show the courage to respond in the way I need to.

O Wisdom

Lord and Ruler

Root of Jesse

Key of David

Rising Sun

King of the Nations

Emmanuel

Come, Lord Jesus