WORD ALIVE

A  famous  artist  once held an exhibition of  all  his  choice paintings.  One painting bore the face of a woman  who was  extraordinarily beautiful.

“Who’s  this?”  spectators ask. “Is  she  your  girlfriend?” “That,” the artist replied smiling, “its the portrait of  my mother. You know how it is. One has to give the best for his  mother.”

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We can say the same of Mother Mary, the Immaculate Conception, whose feast we celebrate this Sunday. The Immaculate Conception was chosen as the principal patroness of the Philippines.

As the artist of that stunning painting  put it, “One has to give his best for a mother.”  That is what God had bestowed on Jesus’ mother – that special honor and privilege to be conceived without the stain of original sin. 

The dogma (Church’s official teaching) of  the Immaculate Conception means everyone born in this world starts life in a state of  dis-grace  before God. 

However,  God made  an exception, and that was Mary, “our tainted nature’s solitary boast!”

We may not reach Mary’s sanctity but it gives us a hint of how we can prepare for the coming of Christmas. It teaches us that Christmas  is  not all  Santa Claus, Christmas bonus, exchange gifts, foods, drinks and merry-making.

St. John the  Baptist, Jesus Christ’s forerunner,  cries out, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight  his paths, every valley shall be filled up.” 

John the Baptist’s words are metaphorical and  does not refer to public works like repairing our potholed roads, especially those in Metro Manila. It means rather that our “morally crooked” ways like pride, laziness, vices and corrupt practices be leveled.

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Then there’s the need for reconciliation with God through the Sacrament of Confession,  and with people we’re not in talking terms with. Let’s not be like that lady who said, “Father, I already forgave my enemy. But I don’t want to see her!”  How can you forgive when you refuse to let go of your hatred?

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May the feast of the Immaculate Conception inspire us to keep on renewing ourselves, to be a loving person, morally upright, and caring for the needy.

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Trying hard. Once a friend confided to a priest that he had been trying to avert his vices. “How did you do it?” “Father, I gave up smoking, drinking, cursing through will power.” “How about womanizing?” He paused momentarily and sheepishly said: “Father, power failure!” 

“But I’m trying hard to overcome it.”

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Rosary bracelet for a cause. Please help our seminarians by buying the Magnetic Rosary Bracelets. The proceeds will go to our Adopt-A-Seminarian scholarship program of Christ the King Mission Seminary at E. Rodrguez Blvd., Quezon City. 

The Magnetic Rosary is not only a prayer article but also helps support normal blood circulation. E-mail Alvin Espiritu at [email protected].